Madrid Assembly Passes New General Advocacy Law with PP-Vox Alliance
The legislation modernizes regional legal services amid political tensions and opposition criticism.
1Legislative Alliance Reaffirmed
The Popular Party and Vox have successfully united their votes in the Madrid Assembly to pass the new General Advocacy Law. This legislative cooperation highlights a growing political alignment between the two parties just weeks before the November 29 general elections, despite ideological differences regarding regional versus national regulatory frameworks.
2Modernizing Legal Frameworks
The new law replaces the outdated 1999 legislation to better suit the current needs of the Madrid administration. It aims to modernize the organization and functioning of regional legal services, which are essential for managing contentious issues and providing advisory support to various government departments within the regional executive branch.
3Structural and Functional Changes
The legislation introduces a clear separation between legal advisory functions and the representation of public interests in court. It establishes two distinct directorates: one for legal advice and another for litigation. Additionally, a new Technical Secretariat will be created to handle specialized studies, legal training, and the digital transformation process.
4Stricter Professional Requirements
To ensure high standards, the law mandates that the General Lawyer must belong to the Corps of Lawyers, preferably from the Community of Madrid. Candidates are now required to possess at least ten years of professional experience. These measures aim to preserve the technical qualification, independence, and impartiality of the legal body.
5Refining Legal Reporting Systems
The reform updates the system for issuing legal reports, clarifying their content and distinguishing them from general consultations. By expanding the use of these consultations across regional administrative bodies, the government seeks to achieve a more agile and effective defense of public interests during complex judicial and administrative proceedings.
6Opposition Criticizes Partisanship
Left-wing parties, including PSOE and Más Madrid, voted against the bill, accusing the Ayuso government of using the General Advocacy for partisan purposes. Critics argue the law serves as a tool to protect the interests of the Popular Party rather than the public, labeling it a taxpayer-funded defense mechanism.
7Vox's Conditional Support
While supporting the legislation, Vox representative Íñigo Henríquez de Luna expressed reservations about regional hyper-regulation. The party successfully negotiated three amendments to the text, though they signaled a preference for national rather than regional laws. This collaboration marks a significant tactical shift in the assembly's recent legislative dynamics.
8Implications for Regional Governance
The law governs the Corps of Lawyers, which currently includes over 80 jurists tasked with defending the Community of Madrid. By formalizing these internal structures, the government intends to streamline its legal responses against the national executive. The long-term impact on regional legal autonomy remains a point of intense political debate.