Spain's State Solicitors have publicly spoken out against attempting to influence them on the crucial opinion they must deliver on the EU court ruling giving Oriol Junqueras' immunity as an MEP. Their professional association has issued a statement this Sunday afternoon stating that it "rejects any attempt to interfere or pressure", given the "recent information published" with reference to the case. The pronouncement of the Solicitors - the Spanish government's legal service - is key in advancing the negotiations between the PSOE and ERC for the formation of a new government under Pedro Sánchez.
The State Solicitors have the task of finding a formula for asking the Supreme Court to allow jailed ERC leader Junqueras to leave prison to formally take up his post as an MEP, but their submission is taking longer than originally expected. Sánchez's investiture as new prime minister depends directly on the positioning the legal advisors take, as it is the condition which pro-independence party ERC has made to reach an agreement.
Translation:
"In the face of recent published information, the governing board of the Association of State Solicitors rejects any attempts at interference or pressure and especially threats aimed at undermining or affecting the performance of the State Solicitors' duties. We
State Solicitors must act in our procedural texts and documents with strict adherence to legal-technical criteria. We are professionals of the Law and qualified public servants who since 1881 have guaranteed subjection to the Law. That is what unites us."
However, in the face of pressure from the PSOE on the State Solicitors Office, which depends on the Ministry of Justice, the Association sought to remember that it rejected pressure tactics, "and especially threats aimed at undermining or affecting the performance of the State Solicitors' duties."
The statement further adds that the legal counsel "must act with strict adherence to legal-technical criteria". Finally, it adds that the State Solicitors body consist of "professionals of the Law and qualified public servants who since 1881 have guaranteed subjection to the Law. This is what unites us."
Specialised legal newspaper Confilegal reports that the drafting of the statement was itself conflictive. One proposed sentence, rejecting any insinuation that the State Solicitors' criteria could be a bargaining chip for a political party, was rejected by a majority of the governing board.