Correa

Sputnik –  On Tuesday (3), the Justice of Ecuador authorized the pre-trial detention of former President Rafael Correa. Former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón shared with Sputnik his views on the current state of justice in Latin America and his role in political persecution.

Accused of attempting to kidnap former congressman Fernando Balda in 2012, Correa is repeating the fate of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Cristina Kirchner.

For Baltasar Garzón, a former judge known for asking the extradition of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, the cases mentioned may even be considered “a betrayal of democracy and society.”

“Institutions should not be used – let alone justice – as weapons to take part in certain groups or individuals,” the imminent judge told Sputnik Mundo.

Garzón finds it very sad that there is “this submission to the political opportunity to change,” especially by means of “conjunctural investigations, without elements”.

The former Spanish judge believes that people should have confidence that regardless of their political views, they are treated equally by Justice, but for the moment this happens to the contrary.

“We thought that in Latin America this had already been overcome, but it became worrying again.” Lula’s case is paradigmatic, that of Cristina and Correa, the same, “he said.

Sputnik’s interlocutor believes that the processes that are taking place in the justice system in Latin America are unreliable and are undoubtedly contaminated and “there are certain transnational structures that are at risk of their power because they can re-govern people who support the most vulnerable, “he said.

According to Garzón, now in South America they try to blame people without blemishes in reputation for all evil.

“I do not accuse anyone in particular, but what I say is that we have to do a deep reflection to recover the place that corresponds to the Judiciary.”