Conde-Pumpido demands renewal of four expired Spanish Constitutional Court seats

Stalled Senate appointments

The president of Spain's Constitutional Court, Cándido Conde-Pumpido, urged political parties on Thursday to reach a pact and fulfill their obligations by renewing the court's leadership. Speaking at an informational breakfast hosted by Nueva Economía Fórum at the Casino de Madrid, he noted that the nine-year mandates of four judges formally expired on 17 December 2025. The magistrates awaiting replacement are Conde-Pumpido himself, María Luisa Balaguer, Ricardo Enríquez, and José María Macías. All four were appointed by the Senate in 2017 and continue to exercise their duties until lawmakers agree on successors. Conde-Pumpido stressed that institutional continuity cannot be subordinated to political interests, making a direct appeal for parliamentary compliance.

He addressed the political stalemate directly during his speech.

“Everything has an end, including my presidency. We are waiting to be renewed; there cannot be other political interests that override compliance with the Constitution.”

Final review of amnesty appeals

Conde-Pumpido also outlined the final stage of judicial deliberation on Spain's amnesty law for Catalan pro-independence leaders. The court has handled an extensive review process, resolving up to 16 appeals lodged by the People's Party (PP) and multiple autonomous communities. Magistrates have also reviewed several constitutional questions submitted by regional courts, including the High Court of Justice of Catalonia and the Madrid Provincial Court. On 6 October 2026, the court will study the last two pending appeals, which focus on embezzlement provisions. Following these decisions, resolutions will be promptly transmitted to ordinary courts for execution, clearing legal hurdles for former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont after nine years living in Brussels.

Defense of judicial legitimacy

The court president defended earlier rulings that confirmed the constitutionality of the amnesty law, addressing pushback from political opposition figures and judicial sectors. He emphasized that the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) endorsed the measure in July 2026. According to Conde-Pumpido, the European court cited the Spanish ruling directly and reinforced the argument that the legislation helped pacify the regional political dispute. He framed the court's actions as strict fulfillment of constitutional duty rather than political alignment with the government, despite persistent accusations from critics regarding court voting blocs.

He rejected claims that the magistrates had yielded to political pressure.

“We were criticized by various legal or political spheres for our rulings; we were simply fulfilling our obligation.”

Political negotiations and schedule

The institutional renewal requires an agreement in the Senate, where Alberto Núñez Feijóo's PP holds an absolute majority. Historical practice involved appointing two magistrates aligned with the PSOE and two backed by the PP, but polarized relations have left the process in deadlock. Conde-Pumpido explained that regional elections in Andalusia contributed to the delay, adding that candidate submissions are expected to resume in November. He pledged to maintain the court's regular operations until the Senate reaches an accord, while cautioning that prolonged delays must not normalize deviations from the constitutional framework.