King Felipe VI Opens Spain's 2026-2027 Judicial Year as Teresa Peramato Addresses Ceuta Migration

Peramato focuses on Ceuta and child protection

King Felipe VI presided over the opening session of the 2026-2027 judicial year at the Supreme Court in Madrid on Thursday at 12:00. State Attorney General Teresa Peramato delivered her first formal address at the annual ceremony alongside Supreme Court and General Council of the Judiciary President Isabel Perelló. The session was the first time in Spanish democratic history that two women delivered the main institutional addresses before the head of state. Peramato assumed office in December following the resignation of her predecessor, Álvaro García Ortiz, after the Supreme Court convicted him of revealing confidential data.

Peramato dedicated the opening of her speech to the migration situation in Ceuta, offering recognition to local residents who have received vulnerable migrants arriving at the border. She emphasized that law enforcement and human rights remain aligned, specifically regarding the care of migrant children.

Preserving the principle of legality and the need to return to a situation of full security and normality is not at all incompatible with the values of humanity and respect for the dignity of all people.

Following a working visit to Ceuta on 27 August to evaluate prosecutorial operations on the ground, Peramato announced that three mainland prosecutors will be temporarily deployed to the autonomous city in the coming days. Delivering data from the department's latest annual report, she stated that the comprehensive protection of minors represents one of the most sensitive responsibilities for the public prosecution service.

Institutional attendance and government absence

The session in the Supreme Court plenary hall gathered leaders from across Spain's legal and legislative bodies. Attendees included members of the General Council of the Judiciary, magistrates of the Supreme Court Governing Chamber, presidents of regional High Courts of Justice, Congress President Francina Armengol, Senate President Pedro Rollán, and Constitutional Court President Cándido Conde-Pumpido. Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Ombudsman Ángel Gabilondo also attended.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez did not attend the ceremony, maintaining his practice of delegating representation to cabinet members. Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes Félix Bolaños represented the government, while Sánchez travelled to Alicante with Science Minister Diana Morant to visit a food manufacturing plant. Previous prime ministers including José María Aznar, Felipe González, and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero attended the opening during their terms, whereas Mariano Rajoy frequently delegated. Madrid Regional President Isabel Díaz Ayuso also missed the event due to the State of the Region parliamentary debate.

Institutional friction over judicial independence

The gathering took place following months of tension between government officials and members of the judiciary over ongoing court proceedings. Informal discussions among attendees in the court corridors followed recent debate regarding legal cases involving the prime minister's family, including inquiries into Begoña Gómez and David Sánchez.

The General Council of the Judiciary previously addressed the friction in June, releasing a statement that reiterated the necessity of respecting judicial independence in the face of public criticism from high state institutions. Felipe VI formally declared the new judicial year open following the presentation of the annual report by the prosecution service and Perelló's opening remarks.