Politics · Spain · 6 hrs ago
Spain’s judicial council postpones Supreme Court appointments amid division
Spain’s General Council of the Judiciary failed to reach agreement at a meeting on Wednesday.
The council oversees the judiciary, and its members are divided into conservative and progressive groups.
It postponed decisions on six vacant posts at the Supreme Court and on renewing its committees.
The vacancies include four posts in the court’s criminal chamber and two in its administrative chamber.
Conservative members also proposed a statement supporting Judge Beatriz Biedma, who investigated a case involving David Sánchez, the brother of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Progressive members opposed signing it, saying it could interfere with an investigation by the National Court; the council therefore issued no joint statement.
Council president Isabel Perelló urged members to seek an agreement at the next plenary meeting, but no date is given.
Spain’s General Council of the Judiciary failed to agree on a statement supporting Judge Beatriz Biedma.
Conservative members proposed the statement, while the nine progressive members opposed discussing or approving it.
The progressive members said the council should remain neutral while judicial investigations are under way.
The proposed statement expressed concern about reported harassment, surveillance or intimidation affecting Biedma and offered institutional support.
- Who
- Spain’s General Council of the Judiciary, whose conservative and progressive members disagreed over a statement supporting Judge Beatriz Biedma.
- What
- The council did not approve the proposed statement.
- When
- Wednesday, 14 October 2026.
- Where
- At a plenary meeting of the General Council of the Judiciary in Spain.
- Why
- Progressive members said the council should remain neutral on matters under judicial investigation; conservative members said it should defend judicial independence.
Conservative members
Progressive members
Proposed statement
Conservative members
They sought a council statement expressing support for Biedma and concern about reports of harassment, surveillance or intimidation.
Progressive members
They opposed discussing or approving the statement and said the council should remain neutral while investigations continued.
Role of the council
Conservative members
They said defending judicial independence was an essential function of the council.
Progressive members
They said public statements could be interpreted as a premature assessment of facts and could affect the independence of investigators.
An entry found in Leire Díez’s agenda later led Biedma to appear as an injured party in an investigation into alleged efforts to undermine her.
National Court judge Santiago Pedraz charged José Luis Sáenz de Tejada and summoned lawyer Raúl Montaño as a witness in the Leire Díez case.
Conservative members proposed a statement supporting Biedma at the council’s plenary meeting.
Progressive members opposed the proposal, and the council did not approve the statement.
- Judge
- Beatriz Biedma
- Council
- Spain’s General Council of the Judiciary
- Progressive members opposing
- 9
- Proposal
- Statement supporting Biedma
- Meeting date
- 14 October 2026
3 sources
El gobierno de los jueces no logra un acuerdo para cubrir las plazas vacantes del Supremo
Los vocales progresistas del CGPJ se niegan a firmar un comunicado de apoyo a la juez Biedma, objetivo de las cloacas del PSOE
What people are saying
debe ser prudente y mantener una estricta neutralidad en relación a cualquier hecho sometido a una investigación judicial.
No alcanzamos a entender las razones de la oposición, así como la renuncia a una de las funciones esenciales del CGPJ, la defensa de la independencia judicial.