Spanish Congress Supports Supreme Court's Request to Investigate Former Minister José Luis Ábalos
The parliamentary commission unanimously backs the Supreme Court's petition to lift immunity for the investigation into the 'Caso Koldo'.
In a significant development within the Spanish political landscape, the Comisión del Estatuto del Diputado agreed unanimously on Tuesday to grant the Supreme Court's request to investigate former Socialist minister José Luis Ábalos, linked to the so-called 'Caso Koldo'.
This decision, reached after an hour-long closed session, now awaits approval from the full Congress, scheduled for an upcoming session.
The announcement was made by the commission's president, Manuel Cobo, from the Partido Popular (PP), who highlighted that the motion received full backing from all parliamentary groups present.
Cobo asserted that the process was thorough, adhering to all necessary formalities, and involved giving due hearing to Ábalos, who submitted comprehensive explanations both orally and in an 88-page document.
Allegations of Irregularities
José Luis Ábalos, now a member of the Grupo Mixto, alleged before the commission that he was the target of a campaign devised to implicate him in the actions of Koldo García, his former adviser.
Ábalos also claimed that the judicial police conducted investigations into him without Congressional approval.
The commission’s report will note Ábalos' assertions regarding perceived procedural anomalies.
Procedure Ahead
Following the commission's favorable opinion to lift Ábalos' parliamentary immunity, the next step is a vote in the Plenary of Congress.
According to parliamentary procedures, the vote must take place in the next ordinary session, slated for February when Congress resumes.
However, it remains a possibility that the Mesa or Junta de Portavoces might expedite the process for the planned plenary session on January 22, intended for confirming legislative decrees.
The Congress plenary debates and votes on requests for lifting immunity in closed sessions, ensuring non-public deliberations and maintaining the secrecy of individual votes.
The only information disclosed is the result of the vote.
Historical Context of Suplicatorios
Historically, Congress has accepted 33 requests to lift parliamentary immunity, while rejecting 14, with the latest denial dated back to 1988 involving a defamation case concerning former Socialist minister José Barrionuevo.
The most recent acceptance was in September 2022, when Congress allowed the Supreme Court to investigate former PP deputy Alberto Casero over alleged crimes of misconduct and embezzlement tied to his tenure as mayor of Trujillo.
Previous legislatures have seen judicial allowances granted for investigations into Junts' Laura Borràs, condemned for contract manipulations, and Podemos' Alberto Rodríguez, initially convicted for an assault charge, which was later overturned by the Constitutional Court.
Other notable cases include acceptance of requests involving PP members Vicente Ferrer, Arsenio Pacheco, and Nacho Uriarte for driving under influence incidents, as well as ex-PP member Jesús Merino's involvement in the 'Caso Gürtel'.
Conversely, the process related to the Socialist ex-counselor José Antonio Viera was discontinued following his resignation amid the ERE scandal investigation.
The scrutiny of parliamentary immunity remains a complex and tantalizing subject, especially given recent precedents and the broader implications for public trust in political accountability domestically and beyond Spain's borders.
This decision, reached after an hour-long closed session, now awaits approval from the full Congress, scheduled for an upcoming session.
The announcement was made by the commission's president, Manuel Cobo, from the Partido Popular (PP), who highlighted that the motion received full backing from all parliamentary groups present.
Cobo asserted that the process was thorough, adhering to all necessary formalities, and involved giving due hearing to Ábalos, who submitted comprehensive explanations both orally and in an 88-page document.
Allegations of Irregularities
José Luis Ábalos, now a member of the Grupo Mixto, alleged before the commission that he was the target of a campaign devised to implicate him in the actions of Koldo García, his former adviser.
Ábalos also claimed that the judicial police conducted investigations into him without Congressional approval.
The commission’s report will note Ábalos' assertions regarding perceived procedural anomalies.
Procedure Ahead
Following the commission's favorable opinion to lift Ábalos' parliamentary immunity, the next step is a vote in the Plenary of Congress.
According to parliamentary procedures, the vote must take place in the next ordinary session, slated for February when Congress resumes.
However, it remains a possibility that the Mesa or Junta de Portavoces might expedite the process for the planned plenary session on January 22, intended for confirming legislative decrees.
The Congress plenary debates and votes on requests for lifting immunity in closed sessions, ensuring non-public deliberations and maintaining the secrecy of individual votes.
The only information disclosed is the result of the vote.
Historical Context of Suplicatorios
Historically, Congress has accepted 33 requests to lift parliamentary immunity, while rejecting 14, with the latest denial dated back to 1988 involving a defamation case concerning former Socialist minister José Barrionuevo.
The most recent acceptance was in September 2022, when Congress allowed the Supreme Court to investigate former PP deputy Alberto Casero over alleged crimes of misconduct and embezzlement tied to his tenure as mayor of Trujillo.
Previous legislatures have seen judicial allowances granted for investigations into Junts' Laura Borràs, condemned for contract manipulations, and Podemos' Alberto Rodríguez, initially convicted for an assault charge, which was later overturned by the Constitutional Court.
Other notable cases include acceptance of requests involving PP members Vicente Ferrer, Arsenio Pacheco, and Nacho Uriarte for driving under influence incidents, as well as ex-PP member Jesús Merino's involvement in the 'Caso Gürtel'.
Conversely, the process related to the Socialist ex-counselor José Antonio Viera was discontinued following his resignation amid the ERE scandal investigation.
The scrutiny of parliamentary immunity remains a complex and tantalizing subject, especially given recent precedents and the broader implications for public trust in political accountability domestically and beyond Spain's borders.
Translation:
Translated by AI
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
