The National Court suspends the statement of the former judge Presencia and witnesses in 'Lezo' for the LAJ strike

The former judge investigated for libel and slander was summoned for Tuesday and the witnesses of 'Lezo' were called for Wednesday

MADRID, 20 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The National Court has had to suspend the interrogation of former judge Fernando Presencia --scheduled for tomorrow Tuesday-- and the statements of two witnesses in the 'Lezo case' --scheduled for Wednesday-- as a result of the indefinite strike that began the Lawyers of the Administration of Justice (LAJ) on January 24.

Since the break in search of salary improvements began, the National Court has had to suspend several declarations: some of the so-called 'Acuamed case', which should have been held on February 6; and others related to the BBVA piece in the 'Villarejo case', which were scheduled for January 31.

This time, the proceedings that the reinforcement judge of the Central Court Number 6, Joaquín Gadea, had pending, have been affected. Specifically, the interrogation of former judge Fernando Presencia, investigated for alleged crimes of libel, slander and against high-ranking State institutions for the accusations launched against magistrates of the Supreme Court (TS), and Alberto Royuela, also investigated in this case.

Likewise, the statements of two witnesses in part 8 of the so-called 'Lezo case' have had to be suspended, in which alleged crimes of bribery attributable to different officials and public officials are investigated, as well as to some OHL employees for the alleged payment of illegal commissions for the award of certain public works to said business group in various parts of the national territory.

The LAJ strike continues after the first meeting they held with the department headed by Pilar Llop ended without an agreement last Friday. After more than 15 hours inside the headquarters of the Ministry, the strike and Justice committee came out with mutual reproaches for maintaining immovable positions.

According to the calculations of the three convening associations, the strike has led to the suspension of 152,000 views and the blocking of 560 million euros. In the more than four weeks that the break has been going on, the LAJ have registered maximum follow-ups of 85% and minimums of 73%; On the other hand, the Ministry has reported between 33.92% and 18.9% participation.

The indefinite strike reaches its 20th day as a result of the conflict that has its origin in "the lack of salary adaptation to the greater functions and responsibilities attributed by Law 13/2009, discharged to judges, and increased in successive reforms", especially that of 2015, which -- they denounce -- has caused an "unbearable imbalance".

The conveners point out as a "trigger" of the conflict the agreement that Justice signed in December 2021 with the unions of the general bodies "without properly developing the salary adjustment to the latest procedural reforms provided for in the second paragraph of Additional Provision 157 of the Law 11/2020 of the General State Budget for 2021".

After the meeting on February 16, the Secretary of State for Justice, Antonio 'Tontxu' Rodríguez, blamed the lawyers for their maximalist position and recalled that they are not workers "who want to make ends meet" but are " privileged people" who earn between 40,000 and 60,000 euros.