Félix Bolaños, the Minister of the Presidency, Justice, and Relations with the Cortes, has publicly criticized the Popular Party (PP) following their recent vote against the creation of the State Public Health Agency in the Congress of Deputies.

This vote came just a day after the PP, along with Junts and Vox, participated in rejecting the legislation designed to facilitate the agency’s establishment, which is intended to oversee public health risks in response to future challenges.

Bolaños pointed out that the agency was originally conceived as a near-unanimous agreement during the pandemic reconstruction commission, highlighting a disconnect between the PP's current stance and their previous support for the initiative.

He noted, "A few days ago, the PP voted in favor of the law that creates the agency, and now, with the same text, they vote against it."

The vote against the agency was part of a broader protest from the opposition against the Congress presidency and the perceived "activist" approach of Health Minister Mónica García. Bolaños emphasized that the actions of the PP could be detrimental to the capabilities of the health system, stating that they are miscalculating the impact of their stance on the government.

Despite this setback, Bolaños affirmed that the government would continue to pursue the legislation, citing a widespread consensus on its necessity.

When questioned about the government's parliamentary strength, Bolaños reassured the media that the government has a successful track record, having reportedly achieved a 90% approval rate in voting within the Congress.

He cited the passage of 28 laws thus far in the current legislative term, equating to approximately three laws for every parliamentary month.

In his address, however, he acknowledged challenges in gaining support for upcoming budget proposals, asserting that existing budgetary plans are “very good, expansive, and progressive,” with evident positive results.

Bolaños dismissed the possibility of early elections despite potential hurdles in passing new budgets.

In a related announcement, the minister revealed an increase in fees for on-duty lawyers and procurators, which will rise by 8%, effective retroactively from January 1, 2025. This decision came after an extended period of no fee updates since 2018 and is part of efforts to ensure that legal professionals receive "dignified fees." The official order regarding this increase is expected to be published in the Official State Gazette on the upcoming Monday.

The fee adjustments will apply across regions overseen by the ministry, including Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Murcia, the Balearic Islands, and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla.

Furthermore, Bolaños indicated that his ministry is finalizing a new law on free legal assistance that aims to modernize the public service.

These developments are since the government is undergoing a broader reform of the judiciary sector, which Bolaños has characterized as the "most significant transformation of the justice system in decades." Currently, the reform faces scrutiny from the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), which recently issued a report raising concerns regarding the proposed changes to the access routes for judicial and fiscal careers, as well as the remuneration for those preparing candidates for these roles.

In response to the CGPJ's stipulations, particularly regarding the expectations of judges and magistrates to perform training without financial compensation, Bolaños expressed surprise and indicated that this perspective differed from the government’s approach, which considers such preparatory work a professional responsibility warranting payment.

He stated that the government would review the CGPJ's feedback while exploring various alternatives.