The Rise and Fall of Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzón

February 17, 2012 · Judicial, Spain, Soeren Kern

On February 9, the Spanish supreme court unanimously ruled to disbar Baltasar Garzón, the Spanish judge who famously indicted former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet using the legal doctrine of universal jurisdiction, for ordering illegal wiretaps. The court found that Garzón acted illegally when…

Mr. Zapatero Goes to Washington

October 9, 2009 · Soeren Kern, Blog

Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's second term in office has not been a happy affair for Spain. Soundly re-elected on a post-modern platform of Socialism, pacifism and feminism just 18 months ago, Zapatero has since stumbled badly in the face of an economic crisis that shows no…