The Círculo Ecuestre hosted the conference ‘The Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Politicization of Institutions’, given by Cristina Dexeus, president of the Association of Prosecutors and a long-serving prosecutor at the Barcelona Provincial Court. The conference was part of a series of events organized by the Círculo Ecuestre's Discussion Groups and the Tocqueville Club.
The session, introduced by Tirso Gracia, member of the Círculo Ecuestre's Governing Board, and moderated by David Carpio, Associate Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Barcelona, brought together members and legal experts to reflect on the independence of the Public Prosecutor's Office and the current challenges facing institutions.
During her presentation, Cristina Dexeus expressed her concern about what she considers a regression in the quality of democracy in Spain, citing controversial appointments at the highest levels of the Public Prosecutor's Office and their impact on the perception of the institution's impartiality.
The expert also pointed out that the independence of the Public Prosecutor's Office is fundamental to guaranteeing legality and protecting citizens' rights against potential political influence.
Among other topics addressed during the conference, held on February 18 at the Barcelona club, the president of the Association of Prosecutors emphasized the importance of separating criminal investigation functions between judges and prosecutors to prevent the concentration of power.
During the discussion, Cristina Dexeus also highlighted the need for reforms to the Organic Statute of the Public Prosecutor's Office to ensure checks and balances on the Attorney General; strengthen the Fiscal Council; guarantee access to the profession through rigorous competitive examinations; and protect the independence of prosecutors from external pressures.
The conference concluded with an open debate for attendees, where solutions to reinforce the neutrality and credibility of the Public Prosecutor's Office were presented, underscoring the importance of institutional independence as a guarantee of a strong rule of law.