Judicial System Criticized
Argelia Queralt: 'Corporatism' prevailed over public interest in Peinado case delay.
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A vocal of Spain's General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) — the body that governs judges — has broken ranks to criticize how the council handled the case of judge Juan Carlos Peinado, the instructor investigating Begoña Gómez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Argelia Queralt told El Periódico that the CGPJ moved too slowly and let internal loyalty among judges override the public interest. 'We have delayed a great deal with Peinado, and corporatism made itself count more than the interest of citizens,' she said.
The CGPJ approved — but only by a divided vote — a motion to open a disciplinary review of judge Peinado's conduct. The split decision laid bare deep tensions inside the body at the close of the judicial year. Queralt and another vocal gave the interview together, offering a rare public rebuke of how the council managed one of Spain's most politically charged judicial cases.
Who Is Peinado and Why His Case Exploded
Judge Juan Carlos Peinado is the Madrid court instructor leading a criminal investigation into Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Sánchez. The case became a political flashpoint in Spain. Critics accused Peinado of procedural overreach. Supporters said he was simply doing his job. The CGPJ — the 20-member body that oversees judicial governance and discipline — came under pressure to act.
After months of debate, the CGPJ finally voted to ask its disciplinary section to review Peinado's conduct. But the vote was not unanimous. According to El Periódico, the split decision itself became a story — showing that some members of the council were reluctant to scrutinize one of their own. That reluctance is what Queralt called 'corporatism.'
Queralt's Blunt Verdict on Judicial Self-Protection
Queralt did not soften her words. She said the CGPJ took far too long to act. 'We have delayed a great deal,' she told El Periódico. She argued the council's hesitation showed a pattern: judges protecting judges, even when citizen trust is at stake. 'Corporatism made itself count more than the interest of citizens,' she said plainly.
This kind of public self-criticism from inside the CGPJ is unusual. The council is often accused by outside observers of moving slowly on discipline cases involving sitting judges. Queralt's comments — made at the end of the judicial year — carry weight because they come from someone inside the room where the decisions were made.
A Divided Council Reflects Spain's Judicial Fault Lines
The CGPJ has long been split along political lines. Its 20 members are chosen by Parliament, meaning the left and right blocs each push for their preferred candidates. The divided vote on the Peinado disciplinary review reflects that split. According to El Día, two vocales agreed to speak out together at year's end — a signal that the minority faction inside the council wanted its view on record.
The council's internal divide matters beyond this single case. Spain's judiciary has faced years of criticism over slow discipline and political interference. A body that cannot reach consensus on reviewing a high-profile judge sends a message — intentional or not — that self-policing has limits. Queralt's interview is an attempt to name that limit out loud.
What Comes Next for the Peinado Review
The disciplinary section of the CGPJ will now decide whether to formally investigate Peinado's conduct as instructor of the Begoña Gómez case. A disciplinary review does not mean punishment. It means the council's internal watchdog examines whether the judge followed proper procedure. The outcome could range from no action to a formal reprimand.
The Begoña Gómez investigation itself continues. Peinado remains on the case. Whatever the disciplinary section concludes, it will not halt his work. But politically, the review adds another layer of pressure — and Queralt's public comments ensure the delay in getting there will not be quickly forgotten. According to El Correo Web, the interview marks a pointed close to a turbulent judicial year.
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