Podcast Summary: "El Abierto | El Gobierno propone una nueva fiscal y el crecimiento de la extrema derecha en Cataluña"

Podcast: Hoy por Hoy
Host: Cadena SER (SER Podcast)
Date: November 25, 2025
Panelists: Àngels Barceló (Host), Guille, Elisa de la Nuez, Josep Ramoneda, Víctor Lapuente, Mariola Lourido, David Junquera, Joan Serra, Carlas Couso, Isabel Vega, Andrea Villoria
Length (content): ~65 minutes
Main Focus:

1. Nomination of Teresa Peramato as new Fiscal General del Estado
2. Context and analysis of Spain's institutional crisis
3. Growth of the far right in Catalonia and its impact
4. Lucha contra la violencia de género (Gender-based violence) and municipal cooperation
5. Other current affairs: the Pujol trial and international updates

1. Introduction & Main Theme [(00:02–00:43)]

• The program delves into two major current events:

  • The government's fast-tracked nomination of a new national prosecutor after a turbulent institutional crisis.
  • The notable surge of the far right in Catalonia, as indicated by new polling.

• The episode also highlights the intersection of the proposed prosecutor’s profile with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (November 25).

2. The Nomination of Teresa Peramato as Fiscal General del Estado

Background & Appointment Process [(00:43–03:57)]

• Teresa Peramato is nominated following the resignation of Álvaro García Ortiz, who was disqualified for two years after a Supreme Court ruling.
• Peramato has a distinguished career (35 years), known primarily for her specialization in violence against women and progressive values.
• Key procedural steps:
  • Nomination by Council of Ministers
  • Advisory report by Consejo General del Poder Judicial (not binding)
  • Appearance before the Justice Committee in Congress, then official appointment
• The government prioritized a prompt, smooth succession, announcing Peramato’s name mere days after the ruling against García Ortiz.

Quote:
"Peramato es un perfil netamente progresista. Fue presidenta de la Unión Progresista de Fiscales y es considerada una de las grandes impulsoras de la especialización judicial en violencia de género." (Guille, [01:43])

Peramato’s Professional & Personal Profile [(04:00–06:11)]

• Mariola Lourido underscores Peramato’s accessibility, respect among feminist organizations, and her involved, hands-on approach alongside government and NGOs.
• Peramato’s family background is not related to the legal world.
• She played a key role in implementing victim protection measures, particularly focusing on recidivist offenders and on the situation of children orphaned by violence.

Quote:
"Fue de hecho la mano derecha de Soledad Cazorla, que fue la primera fiscal de violencia de género que hubo en España." (Mariola Lourido, [05:10])

Initial Reactions & First Analysis

Expert Panel First Impressions [(06:57–13:22)]

• Elisa de la Nuez: Emphasizes the importance of an internal, career-focused profile to heal the institution and reduce political ‘noise’.
  "Espero que sea un perfil que ayude un poco a recomponer, insisto, dentro de la propia fiscalía, todas las cosas que se han roto." ([06:57])

• Josep Ramoneda: Praises the government’s speed and intent to maintain continuity; acknowledges the centrality of combating gender violence.
  "Me parece la primera cosa importante que se ha hecho con tanta rapidez… poner en primer plano una cuestión que desde muchas partes se intenta minimizar." ([08:33])

• Víctor Lapuente: Applauds both her expertise and progressive credentials. Stresses that her effectiveness will ultimately be judged by her conduct and ability for internal reconciliation.
  "La clave de su legitimidad no va a ser su pasado… va a ser el ejercicio de su cargo, y esperemos que esas dos características… se sumen a un carácter más conciliador." ([10:02])

Political Context and Reactions [(13:22–17:33)]

• Opposition Stance (PP): Before Peramato was named, conservative voices demanded reform to make the judicial council’s opinion binding for the post. Skepticism prevails regardless of the nominee’s credentials.
• Feijóo (PP leader): Reiterates the need for “solvency and independence,” but insists that, due to the way appointments happen, any nominee carries a stigma.
  "No habrá ya un fiscal general del Estado nombrado por Sánchez sin la sombra de la degradación." ([16:58] - Feijóo, cited by Junquera)

Peramato’s Stance on the “Solo Sí es Sí” Law [(18:12–20:15)]

• Peramato openly supported reform centering consent in sexual assault law but avoided public polemics about sentencing controversies. She advocated for proper judicial implementation and access for victims rather than engaging in politicized debates.

Quote:
"Era partidaria de esa modernización en la línea de países europeos, pero nunca entró al barro en toda la polémica por la rebaja de penas..." (Mariola Lourido, [18:38])

Broader Institutional Debate: Independence & Reform [(21:02–25:45)]

• Discussion on the need for real independence in the prosecutor's office, including potential reforms:
  • Decoupling the prosecutor’s term from the government's legislative term.
  • Introducing internal checks on the prosecutor’s power of appointments.
• Elisa de la Nuez stresses European recommendations for institutional design for genuine autonomy and accountability.

Quote:
"El diseño de la institución ayuda en un sentido o en otro… el primer principio es desconfianza." (Josep Ramoneda, [25:45])

Sectoral Reactions [(26:51–27:55)]

• Major associations of prosecutors respond positively, especially noting Peramato’s professional merit; future concerns center on her ability to restore internal reputation.

Quote:
“Las dos asociaciones mayoritarias de la Carrera saludan la propuesta por su dilatada hoja de servicio… la clave estará en cómo gestione el reto que tiene por delante en la Fiscalía.” (Isabel Vega, [26:53])

3. Gender Violence: Challenges in Local Implementation

Biogen System: Coverage & Gaps [(29:13–32:50)]

• Only 12% of Spanish municipalities are working with the Biogen system (for monitoring & protecting survivors), highlighting a vast deficit—especially in larger cities not run by progressive majorities.
• Main reasons for non-adherence:
  • Large cities: lack of political will
  • Small towns: lack of resources

Notable Quote:
"Casi el 90% de los ayuntamientos, casi el 90%, no está adherido a este sistema..." (Guille, [32:11])

Panel Reflections [(32:50–39:42)]

• Ramoneda: Right-wing and far-right skepticism toward the concept/ideology of gender violence is driving this policy neglect; refusal to treat it as a priority.
• Víctor Lapuente: Presents statistics about the prevalence of gender violence and the imperative for institutional responses. Suggests the system (Biogen) could be improved with greater transparency, resources, and perhaps an audit.
• Elisa de la Nuez: Emphasizes structural obstacles—thousands of Spanish municipalities are too small to realistically participate, implying that regional or provincial coordination might be a solution.

4. Rise of the Far Right in Catalonia

Poll Results & Analysis [(39:42–51:38)]

• CEO (Catalan CIS) Poll:

  • Aliança Catalana (far right, secessionist) surges to near parity with Junts
  • Vox overtakes the Catalan PP
  • Ultra and far-right parties could hold up to 25% of seats

• Panel Discussion:

  • Junts’ stalling and reliance on an absent Puigdemont leaves an electoral vacuum.
  • The anti-immigration message now dominates both Spanish and Catalan nationalist far right.
  • Systemic grievances and the feeling of being “left behind” are fertile ground for reactionary movements.

Quote:
"Es terreno abonado esa idea de rechazo en un caso a los españoles y ahora ya a los inmigrantes que vienen de fuera." (Elisa de la Nuez, [47:44])

Far-Right Governance: Example of Ripoll [(52:50–55:54)]

• Aliança Catalana's local government in Ripoll is cited:
  • Focus on symbolic measures (anti-mosque, anti-veil bans)
  • Lacking substantive policy or effective administration
  • Cuts or deterioration in public services
  • Use of the mayoralty as a megaphone for Catalan-wide ambitions

Quote:
“Viven de los símbolos y de estas guerras culturales… lo que es difícil es encontrar un político de ultraderecha que hable de políticas públicas o de gestión.” (Elisa de la Nuez, [56:03])

5. Other Current Affairs

Trial of Jordi Pujol & Family [(56:46–63:20)]

• Context:

  • The former Catalan president and all his children are on trial for corruption and illicit fortune.
  • Pujol, frail and aged 95, will testify via videoconference; much of the burden falls on his children.

• Panel Take:

  • This trial represents not just family wrongdoing, but a historic reckoning with a political era where family and nation (“la familia y la patria”) were fused to justify impunity for corruption.
  • Reflection on how old modes of “institutional” and “familial” political corruption persist or evolve.

Quick International Update (Ukraine) [(64:23–65:28)]

• Zelensky signals openness to negotiations for peace, including territories, but Russia escalates military attacks; U.S. mediation in play.

6. Notable Quotes & Moments — Attributed & Timestamped

• "Peramato es un perfil netamente progresista... Considerada una de las grandes impulsoras de la especialización judicial en esta materia." — Guille ([01:43])
• "Que ayude a recomponer, insisto, dentro de la propia fiscalía, todas las cosas que se han roto" — Elisa de la Nuez ([06:57])
• “Me parece que esto es un acierto, poner en primer plano una cuestión que desde muchas partes se intenta minimizar...” — Josep Ramoneda ([08:33])
• “La clave de su legitimidad... va a ser el ejercicio de su cargo…” — Víctor Lapuente ([10:02])
• "No habrá ya un fiscal general del Estado nombrado por Sánchez sin la sombra de la degradación..." — Feijóo, reported by Junquera ([16:58])
• "Hay 2.500 fiscales todos los días yendo a los juicios, a los cuales todo lo que ha pasado con el fiscal general no es que les pille lejos, es que les parece algo absolutamente asombroso." — Elisa de la Nuez ([13:25])
• "A mí me horroriza, pero no me sorprende esta cifra del 12% de los pueblos que no están en el Grupo Biogen, es la dificultad enorme de conseguir que se considere una prioridad absoluta..." — Josep Ramoneda ([32:50])
• “Es que no hay nada más allá de actos psicológicos, porque nadie en la extrema derecha es capaz de proponer un modelo social de desarrollo para un país..." — Víctor Lapuente ([54:33])

7. Flow & Tone

• The panel maintains a reflexive, critical, and somewhat urgent tone, particularly over institutional fragility, the political instrumentalization of the justice system, and the challenges of right-wing extremism.
• There is open concern for the erosion of core values (gender violence, justice, pluralist politics), and a strong plea for institutional reform and social resilience.

8. Timestamps: Segment Guide

• 00:02–03:57 — Introduction & announcement of Teresa Peramato’s nomination
• 04:00–06:11 — Professional profile and early reactions
• 06:57–13:22 — Panelists' first takes on the nomination
• 13:22–17:33 — Political context: PP, Consejo General, institutional debate
• 18:12–20:15 — Peramato’s stance on “solo sí es sí” law
• 21:02–25:45 — Institutional reform and independence of the Fiscalía
• 26:51–27:55 — Prosecutors’ associations’ reaction
• 29:13–32:50 — Biogen system: implementation and coverage
• 32:50–39:42 — Panel reflections on Biogen, resources, and political will
• 39:42–51:38 — Rise of the far right in Catalonia; new polling
• 52:50–56:46 — What Aliança Catalana does when it governs
• 56:46–63:20 — The Pujol family trial and its significance
• 64:23–65:28 — Ukrainian war update

9. Conclusion

The episode thoroughly examines the symbolic and substantive implications of Spain’s new chief prosecutor, the parties’ posturing, the struggle against gendered violence, and new political tectonics in Catalonia—always intertwining critique, institutional analysis, and historical context. It stands as a snapshot of a Spain at a crossroads: facing internal fractures, rising extremism, stubborn inequalities—and searching for a way forward.