Just a quick update on what’s going on in Spain with the criminal procedures against Scilingo and Cavallo, for those who are interested.
As you may recall, Cavallo, an Argentine Navy officer, was extradited from Mexico to Spain some years ago to face charges of genocide, terrorism and torture. He’s been in jail in Spain ever since while his case was being investigated. A few months ago, the investigative part of the case was finished, and the case was due to go on to the trial phase. Instead, the trial court suddenly decided that it didn’t have jurisdiction in the case and freed him. Argentina hurried to request his extradition, albeit on lesser charges. Meanwhile the prosecutors appealed the lack of jurisdiction. The Spanish government announced that it would ask Mexico for permission to extradite Cavallo to Spain, but Mexico said that it wouldn’t consider the matter until the Supreme Court ruled in the matter of jurisdiction. That was due to happen this month. Instead, Cavallo’s defense has presented a request that Perfecto Andrés Ibañez, the judge in charge of the case be recused, as his ideology is similar to that of the plaintiffs. The Supreme Court has decided to rule on this issue first.
Meanwhile, Scilingo, as you may recall, was found guilty of crimes against humanity in 2005 and sentenced to several centuries in prison. His case is also being appealed both by his defense lawyers, and by some of the popular accusations which argue that he should have been convicted of genocide instead. The Supreme Court is also due to decided on this case soon.
Given that Cavallo’s defense is the same as that of Scilingo’s, and that Scilingo’s defense has also requested that Garzon be recused on the same grounds that Ibañez, it’s likely that if the court rules against Ibañez in the Cavallo case, it will also rule against Garzón.
We are at a very high risk of impunity reigning again in Spain.