Spanish justice minister under pressure after comment on judge

The Spanish justice minister, Rafael Catalá, was asked to step down by seven associations of judges and prosecutors after criticizing a magistrate over the controversial La Manada case. A group of five men were sentenced to nine years in prison last week after sexually attacking an 18-year-old woman in Pamplona (Navarra region, 300 km west of Catalonia). Yet the verdict sparked outrage throughout Spain, including Catalonia, because the judges dismissed rape accusations, ruling that there was no violence or intimidation toward the victim. All parties in Barcelona's city council rejected the verdict.

Minister: judge has a "singular problem"

The case even enraged more the public as one of the judges, Ricardo González, issued a dissenting opinion claiming that the five members of the gang-rape La Manada should be absolved. When being asked by this magistrate, Catalá said this Monday that in the Spanish General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), “everyone knows that the judge González has some singular problem,” and the ruling judicial authority should have taken action. He did not unveil what ‘singular problem’ he has, but he did say that the CGPJ took some disciplinary action against him in the past.

"Political use of justice"

Seven associations of judges and prosecutors asked for him to step down after these remarks, which the magistrates brand as a “recklessness.” According to them, there is a “great risk” for the Spanish judiciary after “the use of legal rulings by the executive power.” The CGPJ made similar remarks in a statement, urging Catalá “institutional responsibility in order to avoid the political use of justice.” The authority also called on the Spanish justice minister not to question “the independence, impartiality, and professionality of judges and magistrates making up the Spanish judiciary.”

A unionist Ciutadans party spokesman said that pointing judges “does a disservice” to separation of powers in Spain, while the pro-independence PDeCAT asked the minister to appear before the Spanish Congress in order to explain what ‘singular problem’ has the judge.

Criticism also over independence judicial case

This controversy comes amid the pro-independence judicial case, widely criticized by the parties and associations in favor of a Catalan state. They consider the case shows a “lack of judicial independence.” Indeed, even some of the jailed pro-independence officials made similar remarks to the judge in charge of their case. The jailed minister Josep Rull said that the Spanish justice minister and other officials have “anticipated” some judicial rulings, and added that the judicial case against him is “political.” This comment was shared by a number of incarcerated leaders.