_
_
_
_
_
JUSTICE

Judiciary protest is just about holiday pay cuts, says minister

Gallardón dismisses legal sector’s reaction to court fees as mere tantrum over Christmas bonus

Sometimes governing is a question of “sharing out the pain,” Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón said on Wednesday, faced with a mounting mood of protest among judiciary professionals.

The previous day, Gallardón had upped the ante in his battle with judges and prosecutors over the introduction of court filing fees and his judicial reform, saying legal workers are upset because the government took away their Christmas bonuses.

Gallardón said a majority of magistrates had asked for the court fees. The largest judges' group, APM, has said it is in favor of introducing filing fees "to dissuade frivolous lawsuits," but has criticized the "exorbitant prices" proposed.

At the same time, 18 associations that group magistrates, lawyers, prosecutors and other legal workers released a statement on Tuesday rejecting Gallardón's proposed reforms in the system, including filing fees. They said they would go over Ruiz-Gallardón's head and appeal directly to Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, calling for an immediate meeting with the head of the Popular Party government.

Nevertheless, the Justice chief said there was no turning back. "Of course they are going to protest. Why not? We took away their extra Christmas pay. We cannot allow any particular interest to override the general interest," he said. "There is always resistance to change, and this has always occurred in Spain."

The associations of judges and prosecutors will hold a one-hour work stoppage on Wednesday from midday and organize rallies in front of courthouses and at the Justice Ministry.

Recomendaciones EL PAÍS
Recomendaciones EL PAÍS
_
_