Who is the star in the Prosecutor's Office?

MadridJudges rarely see the consequences of their decisions firsthand. And this Thursday was one of those days. Most of the Supreme Court judges that Álvaro García Ortiz was sentenced They have witnessed, from the front row, the inauguration of their successor as Attorney General of the StateTeresa Peramato. 786 days later, the high court closed the circle and reaped the rewards of an unprecedented ruling that will mark a turning point.

A six-minute ceremony in the Supreme Court's solemn Plenary Hall—which hosted the trial of the Process—with every detail strictly adhered to and without exception, served to formalize the appointment of Teresa Peramato. Among the audience were judges, prosecutors, Constitutional Court justices, and members of the General Council of the Judiciary. At one end of the head table sat Andrés Martínez Arrieta, the rapporteur for the ruling against the Attorney General. At the other, Andrés Palomo, who supported exonerating him and opposed sending him to trial. Further along, Manuel Marchena was flanked by Jaime Moreno and Fidel Cadena—with Consuelo Madrigal nearby—the prosecutors in the Process who They stood up to them against Álvaro García Ortiz for the amnesty in embezzlement cases. They were removed from the case, but the Criminal Chamber ended up accepting their reasoning. exclude the pro-independence leaders of the criminal oblivion law.

Later, conversations and greetings took place in the Supreme Court corridors. One in particular caught the eye: one of the judges who signed the Attorney General's conviction, concerned about future historians' investigations, asserted to a minister that "the truth lies in the judgments." And—ironically—he asked for advice on whether it was appropriate to also attend Teresa Peramato's swearing-in ceremony as Attorney General. Surrounding himself with prosecutors didn't seem like a good idea to him.

From the Supreme Court to Fortuny

An hour and a half later, on Fortuny Street in Madrid—the headquarters of the Public Prosecutor's Office—the spotlight was shared. Teresa Peramato received congratulations at her official debut, while Álvaro García Ortiz collected hugs and heard expressions of support. With a radiant smile, he appeared in the central courtyard of the Public Prosecutor's Office at noon and greeted everyone. It was his first public appearance after the trial, and his tie, visibly askew, bore firsthand witness to the warmth he was receiving.

The physical support translated into words of encouragement for Teresa Peramato's speech, in which she publicly expressed her "recognition, respect, admiration, gratitude, and affection." These words were followed by 22 seconds of applause. Later, amidst the storm within the PSOE over the cases of alleged sexual harassmentThe new Attorney General – an expert in gender violence – has urged society, institutions, and organizations to take a "clear and active stance" against "attacks on women's sexual freedom."

At the end of the ceremony, Minister Félix Bolaños greeted Álvaro García Ortiz and introduced him as "the star" of the day. "The star is Teresa," he replied. For now, after being disqualified as Attorney General, it is still unclear whether he will be reinstated as a senior prosecutor in the coming weeks – he is avoiding commenting now, and those close to him acknowledge that there is some legal debate on the matter. However, despite initial tangential doubts, he did appear in the group photo taken on the grand staircase. He was in the last row. He didn't want to be seen. But the hugs he continued to receive afterward prevented him from focusing his efforts on delighting the audience. Spanish wine The lies spread by Isabel Díaz Ayuso's inner circle have ultimately defeated him in court, but they haven't diminished the esteem shown to him by his entire "environment."