The State Attorney General, Teresa Peramato, appears today before the Senate's Justice Commission, where she will be questioned about appointments made since she took office on December 11th, following the conviction of her predecessor, Álvaro García Ortiz. A majority sector of the judicial career believes that the intention to 'heal the wounds' of the public prosecutor's office has been diluted by these decisions.
Among the most controversial appointments is the proposal of María Isabel Martín as the new superior prosecutor of Madrid, replacing Almudena Lastra, who had testified against García Ortiz in the trial that led to his conviction. Furthermore, Pilar Rodríguez, considered Lastra's 'rival' and who was investigated along with García Ortiz for revealing secrets, has been promoted to prosecutor of the Supreme Court. Pilar Fernández, García Ortiz's wife, has also left the Children's Prosecutor's Office in Madrid to return to Galicia as the new deputy prosecutor.
The Attorney General will also have to respond regarding meetings held by members of the PSOE's 'fixer' plot, Leire Díez. The Attorney General's Office has admitted to Judge Santiago Pedraz two meetings between García Ortiz's former right-hand man, Diego Villafañe, and members of the plot. However, reports from the Civil Guard's Central Operational Unit (UCO) suggest the possibility of up to five meetings.
The Fiscal Inspection has opened an investigation against prosecutor Pilar Rodríguez and María Luisa Llop, following a complaint processed by former superior prosecutor Almudena Lastra.
