Isabel Perelló defends judicial independence and demands a response to the Ceuta crisis

The president of the Supreme Court and the General Council of the Judiciary, Isabel Perelló, pointed out this Thursday before the watchful eye of King Felipe VI that "the reality suffered by the people of Ceuta demands a response that preserves the integrity of our borders and the orderly control of access and that, at the same time, ensures the application of the guarantees provided for in our system."

Perelló also wanted, at the solemn opening ceremony of the Judicial Year, to make a special mention of those who have lost their lives in "the serious crisis in which Ceuta is mired." "In such a complicated situation, citizens can trust in the commitment of the Judiciary to the State; and that the judges will continue working, ensuring the rights of those affected and compliance with the law," he stressed.

Throughout her entire speech, the judge has also made a strong defense of the Judiciary and its members. "The Rule of Law requires an independent Judiciary. If an independent Judiciary is missing, the Rule of Law itself disappears, since there is no longer anyone to guarantee compliance with the laws and constitutional principles and that all citizens and also public powers act subject to the Law and the Right," he stressed.

Likewise, the president of the TS and the CGPJ has not avoided clashing with the Government during her intervention regarding the "disqualifications" of judges that "come from those who exercise institutional responsibilities." Perelló has said that in these cases the "seriousness" of the disqualifications is "greater." The judge recalled that the Judiciary constitutes, because it is so assigned by the Constitution, a "true counterweight to the other powers of the State."

Likewise, Perelló has highlighted that "the democratic legitimacy of the Judiciary derives directly from the Constitution, which proclaims that Justice emanates from the people. Judicial independence is not an exception to the democratic principle, but one of its guarantees. Constitutional democracy is not exhausted by majority rule. It is also based on the recognition of rights whose effectiveness cannot depend on the political, social or economic position of the person who invokes them. The courts must resolve in accordance with what the Law provides, without direct or indirect pressure."