“The Supreme Court created my crime; it was written in advance”
“The Supreme Court created my crime; it was written in advance”
Former High Court judge vows return to the magistrates’ bench when his suspension ends in 2021
Natalia Junquera Madrid 24 MAY 2013 - 19:57 CET
On May 1, 2021 Baltasar Garzón’s suspension from the bench for authorizing illegal wiretaps in the Gürtel corruption investigation will expire. The crusading magistrate will be 65. “On that day I will return to take up my post as a judge,” says Garzón from Bogota, from where is to travel to Argentina this weekend. Since his disqualification, Garzón has been a nomad, with seven jobs in six countries, including serving as director of the International Center for the Promotion of Human Rights in Argentina; a University of Washington post; and advisor to the Colombia Attorney General’s Office, for which he is drawing up a criminal investigation manual.
It is now three years since Garzón was suspended for launching an investigation into crimes committed by the Franco regime, and on Monday he is expected to testify in front of an Argentinean judge after victims’ associations had asked him the time they saw him descend the steps of the High Court for the last time. “I told them the Spanish state had abandoned the victims of human rights crimes, which have no statute of limitations.” Now Garzón aims to help them as a lawyer. “I will try to make the Spanish state return assets that were seized. I know that there are many problems in Spain, but this has been on hold for 70 years.”
Question. Will you ever make a return to politics?
Answer. It is the moment to get involved in politics because we are witnessing a shameful spectacle on the part of the government. The ideological positions are very worrying and nobody can remain indifferent under these circumstances. I have always believed that politics is not a fenced-in ground; I am against career politics. It is a service vocation in which everything should be given and very little received. I am practicing politics through lawsuits, debates, thoroughness. But I will not present myself on any electoral lists. I am not partisan. But I do believe civil society should involve itself in politics. The parties need to change their structures. I think Spanish democracy needs to be reactivated with more participation by the people.
More:
http://elpais.com/elpais/2013/05/24/inenglish/1369417950_702105.html
