Spanish regional prosecutors defend judicial independence

Regional prosecutors in Spain are addressing concerns regarding judicial independence and the perceived politicization of the Prosecutor's Office.

Javier Montero, the Superior Prosecutor of Extremadura, defended the institution's independence following high-profile cases involving the State Attorney General and David Sánchez. Montero expressed disagreement with a Supreme Court ruling regarding the disclosure of information, asserting that no criminal offense occurred and that the proceedings were based on public information rather than a breach of secrecy.

In the Canary Islands, Superior Prosecutor Jaime Serrano-Jover rejected the concept of ‘lawfare,’ characterizing political criticisms as unjustified attempts to discredit the institution. Serrano-Jover noted that while the prosecution has faced smear campaigns, the institution also shares responsibility for a loss of public trust due to a failure to communicate effectively. He advocated for a reform of the criminal justice model, specifically proposing that investigative powers be transferred to prosecutors to modernize the current system.