Read in Catalan

The announcement by eight of the ten conservative members of Spain's General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) demanding that a special meeting of the full body be called to reject the legislative proposal for the Amnesty, which has not yet been agreed upon and even less made known, is one further step in the incursion of the judicial world into matters that are not, for the moment, within its strict jurisdiction. With the functions and capacities of the CGPJ clearly regulated by law, it is unfeasible for the judicial body to make a collegial protest against a legal proposal which has not been born and, as such, has not been submitted to their opinion by anyone.

Since, obviously, they know they can't do this, much more clearly than the writer of this article does, one needs to take a much harder look at the announcement. What is it really aimed at? Basically, there are two things intended: to put obstacles in the way of the political debate that is taking place between the parties that plan to pass the law as one of the conditions of Pedro Sánchez's investiture as the head of a new Spanish government, and also to organize as broad a front as possible to oppose the amnesty both in the institutions and on the street. A clear revolt against the power of the Congress of Deputies, led from the front by the right-wing political and media worlds, approved symbols of the left and defenders of Spain's regime of '78, the judicial and legal framework which could also include prosecutors, state solicitors, senior civil servants and Spanish nationalist intellectuals from right across the left-right spectrum.

The moment selected is not innocent either. The negotiations between the Socialists (PSOE) and Together for Catalonia (Junts) are in the final stretch, which is no impediment for the discussion between the two parties being heated and tense. Even more stressed than a week ago. The general framework is always easier than completing the small print and, in this, the network of state solicitors are highly professional at always decanting the final draft in their favour. If there had not been such a rush to complete the agreement with the Socialists in the 2006 Catalan Statute of Autonomy, which would later be of little use due to its destruction by the Constitutional Court, perhaps the resistance to the transfer of the El Prat airport to Catalan hands could have been overcome. 

Now, in what is supposed to be the final stretch and with the PSOE pushing for the investiture of its candidate to take place next week, between the 8th and the 10th, it is worth remembering that haste has never been a good advisor. The deal must be closed and matured. And if the first has not arrived at the time of writing this text, then the second, even less. What can be achieved in hours? That Junts will be able to get everything ready for its leadership to approve the agreement and for there to be a public appearance? That as well. But if the deal with the Republican Left (ERC) was that of the castanyada - it was announced on the night of the 31st - Junts's agreement could be that of the Day of the Dead. I don't know.