Spain's Judicial Chief Calls Claims of Political Rulings "Extremely Serious"

The head of Spain's judiciary has described as "extremely serious" any accusation that judges decide cases for political rather than legal reasons, according to RTVE.es. In remarks reported Thursday, the judicial leader also said it is not acceptable for public criticism of judges to be turned into a tool of pressure.

The comments were carried by several Spanish outlets, with ABC reporting that the judicial chief called the accusation "extraordinarily serious." EL PAÍS quoted the same figure saying that the public disparagement of judges must not become an instrument of pressure.

The same judicial leader also addressed the situation in Ceuta, according to La Vanguardia and El Mundo. Both outlets report that the judicial chief said the crisis there demands a response that protects the integrity of Spain's borders.

The statements place the head of the judiciary at the center of two sensitive debates at once: the tone of political criticism directed at the courts, and the migrant situation at the Spanish enclave on the North African coast.

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The reported remarks do not name any specific individual or party as the target of the criticism. RTVE.es, EL PAÍS, ABC, La Vanguardia and El Mundo all carried the judicial leader's comments in their coverage of the same day.

What to watch next: whether political parties respond directly to the judicial chief's warning, and how the border situation in Ceuta develops in the coming days.