The General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) failed on Monday on its third day of voting to elect its president, after the plenary session ended without any of the seven proposed candidates obtaining the necessary support. The institution Its leadership remains undefined, in a process that has stagnated and generated concern.
No candidate achieves the majority necessary to preside over the CGPJ
Frustrated beginnings of the new CGPJ
Since last week, the votes have resulted in ties between the candidates Pillar Tense y Paul LukeThis Monday, the CGPJ restarted the process with the seven initial candidates: Hope Cordoba, Antonio del Moral, Ana Ferrer, Ángeles Huet, Carmen Lamela, Paul Luke y Pillar TenseHowever, no consensus has been reached.
Meeting for urgent matters
The Plenary has decided to hold a meeting on 19 August to deal with urgent matters. This decision responds to the need to adopt agreements regarding regulated acts and others with peremptory deadlines. The report of the Plenary Technical Office stresses that the CGPJ, despite not being complete, must continue to operate so as not to harm the rights of judges and magistrates.
First blockade of the new CGPJ
The last plenary meeting, on Wednesday, ended without agreement after several unsuccessful votes. The lack of consensus has become a persistent problem. Last Tuesday, the CGPJ faced its first blockage when it failed to obtain the necessary majority of three-fifths (12 votes) to elect its president.
Candidates in the spotlight
Three candidates stood out in Tuesday’s plenary session: Pillar Tense, Paul Luke y Ana FerrerSuccessive votes reduced the list to Teso and Lucas, but both tied on multiple occasions, without achieving the necessary majority.
Pillar Tense She is a moderate progressive who was already a candidate in 2013, while Paul Lukealso a moderate progressive, was proposed by the conservative sector and is known for his role in judicial control of the CNI. Ana Ferreranother progressive, was part of the ‘procés’ tribunal. The lack of agreement between the members of the conservative and progressive sectors has prevented the process from moving forward.
Consequences and next steps
The stalemate in the election of the president of the CGPJ creates uncertainty about the future of the body and its functions. The meeting scheduled for August 19 will be key to address urgent matters, but the need to elect a president remains a priority to ensure the full functioning of the institution.
The current situation of the CGPJ It reflects the difficulty of reaching consensus in an environment marked by polarization. The next few days will be decisive in determining whether the members manage to overcome their differences and elect a president to guide the body in the coming years.
