Spain Breaks Years-Long Impasse with Appointment of First Female Supreme Court Chief
Spain has ended a long-standing deadlock by appointing Isabel Perello, 66, as its first female head of the Supreme Court. Perello’s nomination marks a significant milestone for women’s rights in Spain and restores institutional stability to the country’s court system.
The Supreme Court, along with the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), a legal watchdog responsible for appointing judges and ensuring judicial independence, has been operating on an interim basis since its mandate expired in December 2018. The standoff was caused by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s ruling Socialists and the main opposition Popular Party (PP) unable to agree on the makeup of the council.
Perello, described by Spanish media as a progressive, was elected president of the Supreme Court and the CGPJ, receiving the backing of 16 out of 20 council members. Her appointment breaks the long-standing male dominance at the highest levels of the Spanish judiciary, making her the first woman to head Spain’s Supreme Court since its inception in 1812.
The council’s expired mandate has caused problems for the functioning of the Spanish court system, with over 100 vacancies for judges and several rebukes from Brussels. Perello’s nomination was made possible after the Socialists and PP recently agreed on the renewal of the 20 members of the CGPT.
Prime Minister Sanchez congratulated Perello on her appointment, emphasizing the importance of equality in democracy. "Today, Spain recovers institutional normality," he said. Perello will be sworn in on Wednesday and will be the first woman to lead the Supreme Court and the CGPJ.
As a judge since 1985 and hailing from Catalonia, Perello’s appointment brings a welcome breath of fresh air to Spain’s judicial system. With her historic milestone achieved, Spain is finally putting its institutional differences aside to pave the way for a brighter future.
