The Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes, Félix Bolaños, participated on Wednesday in a discussion organized by the César Carlos Student Residence in Madrid. It houses postgraduate students connected to research or preparing for public office competitive examinations for the Higher Corps of the Administration.
Furthermore, this is an institution which turned 80 years old this year and which Bolaños congratulated for having become a space of culture and excellence, where many of our country’s best civil servants have been trained.
During his talk, Bolaños explained the Justice reforms to the students, highlighting the comprehensive modernization of the administration through Royal Decree-law 5/2023, focusing on procedural efficiency, Royal Decree-law 6/2023, with reforms for digital efficiency such as the Electronic Judicial Record; and the Law of Efficiency (to be fully implemented by 31 December), which updates the judicial system.
Also, the Minister underlined that work is continuing to pass the new Organic Law on Criminal Procedure and the Law to Extend and Reinforce Judicial and Prosecutor Careers, both stalled for years and which the Government has now sent to Parliament to be processed.
Modernizing while maintaining high standards
Bolaños explained that the law to reinforce careers was a great opportunity for the Public Service of Justice and also for those taking the competitive examinations, as it has created 2,500 new positions for judges and prosecutors.
In addition, the Minister said that it will not only modernize the process while maintaining high standards, but will also reinforce the conviction that merit and ability are the only decisive criteria. Among the main changes, he said, is the introduction of a written test, that will help evaluate essential skills for judicial work, which go beyond mere memorization, as well as the obligation to fully record all oral examinations to guarantee the right to review by the examinees.
He also mentioned the value of the SERÉ grants to help prepare the examinations to become a judge, Government Attorney or Lawyer of the Justice Administration. A firm commitment to equal opportunities so that accessing the highest State Corps does not depend on family resources, but on the effort, vocation and preparation of each individual, he stated.
Bolaños assured that the reforms driven by the Government aim to maintain meritocracy as the essential principle, but also to ensure that nobody is left behind for economic or social reasons. “Equal opportunities is not a luxury, it is a democratic requirement”, the Minister defended.
Following his talk, the Minister participated in a lively debate with the Residence students.
