Minister Óscar López says 'there are judges who prevaricate' at event honoring convicted ex-attorney general; PP calls remark 'lamentable'

Remarks at a 'Público' event

Spanish Minister for Digital Transformation and Civil Service Óscar López made the comments on Wednesday evening at an event organized by the newspaper 'Público', where former Attorney General Álvaro García Ortiz was receiving an award. López said that 'there are judges who prevaricate, not all' and added, 'and if it is not them, it is someone from their circle', in reference to the Supreme Court ruling that convicted García Ortiz for revealing secrets related to the partner of Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso.

There are judges who prevaricate, not all of them.

López insisted that 'Justice does not govern' and stressed that 'the Government governs', emphasizing the separation of powers but also warning that the executive would not 'allow itself to be run over by those trying to mix everything up to create confusion'. He separately defended his right to criticize what he called 'unjust sentences', while maintaining that 'the vast majority of judges do an extraordinary job'.

PP labels remarks 'lamentable' and demands a complaint

Popular Party congressional spokesperson Ester Muñoz responded sharply on Thursday, calling López's words 'lamentable'. She argued that if a minister believes judges are prevaricating, he should report it because it is 'a very serious crime'. Muñoz connected the rhetoric to what her party views as a government 'running forward' in the face of corruption allegations, noting that Transport Minister Óscar Puente had recently spoken of an 'attempt to bring down' the government through 'non-democratic' methods.

If he believes there are judges who prevaricate, what he has to do is report it, because it is a very serious crime.

Muñoz also revealed that she had asked Vice President and Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo in Congress on Wednesday whether the government believed there was 'lawfare' or a 'judicial coup d'état', and that he did not reply.

PSOE distances itself from the term 'prevarication' but questions courts

PSOE's own congressional spokesperson, Patxi López, did not explicitly endorse his namesake's accusation of prevarication. Instead, he questioned the functioning of the judiciary more broadly, citing 'cases opened with newspaper clippings', 'unjustified different speeds' in processing, and 'incomprehensible sentences'. He stressed that these remarks were 'words of Óscar López' and left it to 'everyone to judge'.

There are facts that show that cases have been opened with newspaper clippings; unjustified different speeds and incomprehensible sentences.

Another socialist deputy, José Zaragoza, defended the right to criticize judicial actions while insisting that politicians should not act as judges. He argued that 'if you do not share what the justice system does, you can opine on its actions', and noted that lately court proceedings seem to unfold more in the media than in courtrooms.

Strategy amid judicial front

La Razón and other outlets frame the minister's intervention as part of an escalating government offensive against the judiciary, moving from defense to questioning the judges themselves. The backdrop includes multiple judicial investigations involving the PSOE and the 'cloacas' affair, and the event celebrated a figure convicted by the Supreme Court — all of which opposition parties portray as an attempt to discredit the courts while the executive faces legal pressure.

López himself said he had not named specific judges, adding that 'neither are all politicians corrupt, nor are all judgments fair'. On Thursday, at a digital talent forum in Madrid, he reiterated his right to free expression, saying he would continue to criticize sentences he considers unjust.