Vox and Ciudadanos criticize that resources are not taken advantage of when Spain invests more than the European average in Justice
MADRID, 19 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Secretary of State for Justice, Tontxu Rodríguez, announced this Wednesday in Congress that the ‘remuneration table’ for a review of the salaries of judges and prosecutors, which was scheduled for this month of October but was called off by the Government, it will reconvene in 2023.
“Without a doubt, it will be resumed at the beginning of the year,” Rodríguez assured during the Justice Commission, where he appeared to report on the General State Budget (PGE) project and the 2,291 million allocated to the Ministry of Justice.
The announcement comes after the four associations of judges and the three of prosecutors demanded, through a joint statement at the beginning of the month, explanations to the Government for canceling the meeting and failing to fulfill its “commitment” for a salary improvement.
According to the Secretary of State, the ‘remuneration table’ scheduled for this year has been called off due to a “union agreement” that was approved by the Government and the union centrals.
The Professional Association of the Magistracy (APM), the Judicial Association Francisco de Vitoria (AJFV), Judges and Judges for Democracy (JJpD), Independent Judicial Forum (FJI), the Association of Prosecutors (AF), the Progressive Union of Prosecutors (UPF) and the Professional and Independent Association of Prosecutors (APIF) reacted with “stupor and indignation” to the dismissal and indicated that they saw broken “bridges of contact” with the ministry headed by Pilar Llop.
“It leaves us in obvious helplessness and, at the same time, in full freedom to make decisions and take the actions that proceed by law,” the seven associations advanced in the statement.
Hours before, the Government had notified them that it was “necessary” to delay the convening of the table and that Justice would convene it “as soon as possible”, given the “impact” it may have, according to the Ministry of Finance, in the preparation, processing and negotiation of the 2023 Budget project.
Regarding the budget allocation to Justice, the Secretary of State has claimed that it will provide “stability and modernity, despite the fact that some do not want it”, while he has censored the “negative and catastrophic” vision of the opposition parties .
Rodríguez explained that the increase of 0.3 percent for 2023 –seven million more than what was budgeted for 2022– is due to the fact that “almost all” of the European funds have already been transferred, which has caused the final increase is less.
In his opinion, if one is “realistic” and eliminates the effect of the contribution of European funds, which “90%” have already been paid, the amount that Justice will have should be seen as a “success”, at increase the regular budget by 160 million, 7.8% more.
For his part, the PP deputy Miguel Ángel Jerez has criticized that what is budgeted for next year condemns the Justice to be the “Cinderella” of some PGE that are not, according to him, credible.
He pointed out that in the Administration of Justice “there are not enough resources” and that the 300 new positions announced for judicial and prosecutorial careers are few because Spain is still “very far” from the European average of judges and prosecutors per inhabitant.
Along the same lines, the spokespersons for Vox and Ciudadanos, Javier Ortega Smith and Edmundo Bal, respectively, have pointed out that Spain does exceed, on the other hand, the European average of public spending on Justice but –they consider– it wastes resources .
For Ortega Smith, this problem responds to the “inefficiency and waste” of the Government, which focuses on “propaganda.” For Bal, Justice “always” is “the poor sister” of public accounts: “We have funds but they are spent badly” due to the “continued negligence” of the PP and PSOE during more than 40 years of democracy.
From the PSOE and United We Can, the deputies Francisco Aranda and Roberto Uriarte have applauded what was budgeted by their Government, which will help the “modernization” and greater agility of Justice.
