What it is
Bill would stop the State defending officials in corruption cases
It is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 24 January 2017. Introduced by: Grupo Parlamentario Confederal de Unidos Podemos-En Comú Podem-En Marea.
Official title: Private member's bill amending Act 52/1997, of 27 November, on Legal Assistance to the State and Public Institutions.
Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000063· updated 11 Nov
Automatic summary, not yet reviewed
- The bill responds to concern about corruption: according to its explanatory statement, more than one hundred recent cases and fraud ranking second in the latest CIS survey justify taxpayers not paying for the defense of people who commit corruption crimes.
- The bill would amend Article 2 of Law 52/1997 so that the State Attorney's Office (Abogacía del Estado The corps of lawyers who represent and defend the Spanish State and its bodies in court.) would no longer represent or defend senior officials accused of corruption in business, political party financing offenses, or crimes against the Public Administration, such as bribery or embezzlement.
- The change would apply only to court proceedings starting after it takes effect, without affecting cases already underway, so that the accused person is never left defenseless, a right protected by Article 24 of the Spanish Constitution.
- The Government would have six months to adapt the implementing regulations, and the law would take effect the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado).
Who it affects
- Senior public officials: Would lose free defense by the State Attorney's Office if accused of corruption crimes.
- State Attorney's Office (Abogacía del Estado): Would stop defending senior officials in court in these specific cases.
- Taxpayers and the general public: Would no longer fund the defense of officials accused of corruption.
Words worth knowing
- Abogacía del Estado
- The corps of lawyers who represent and defend the Spanish State and its bodies in court.
- Alto cargo
- A person holding a senior management or responsibility position in the public administration, without being a career civil servant.
- Cohecho
- The crime of bribing or accepting a bribe.
- Malversación
- The crime of using public money or property for a purpose other than the one intended.
- Indefensión
- Being unable to defend oneself properly in court.
It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries
Where it stands
How far did it get?
It took 2 of 7 steps. It reached Admitted, and today it is unfinished.
- Introduced24 January 2017Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
- Admitted26 January 2017The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
- Amendmentsnot reachedGroups propose changes.
- Committeenot reachedA committee goes through the text in detail.
- Plenarynot reachedAll 350 deputies vote.
- Senatenot reachedThe Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
- BOEnot reachedIt is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 6 official steps on a timeline
Was there a plenary vote?
We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.
What happens next
What happens now?
The legislature ended before it finished. To go on, someone would have to introduce it again in the new Cortes.
It has not been presented again yet.
Sources
Where does all this come from?
- Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000063
Official title, type, author, dates and stage.
Retrieved 11 November 2026
- The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
- Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
- We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.