The Ombudsman, Manuel Lezertua, will present his resignation to the Basque Parliament today
According to the Ararteko Act, the appointment must be approved in the Basque Parliament by a three-fifths majority, that is, by 45 of the 75 parliamentarians.
Manuel Lezertua has today officially presented his resignation from the Ombudsman, who has held office since June 2015, and has therefore initiated the parliamentary procedure for the election of the institution's new representative.
Lezertua announced a few days ago his departure from the institution after ten years at the head of the Ararteko. Lezertua believes that "a new personis needed with new ideas and a longer term project. "
Until his successor is appointed, the current deputy to the Ombudsman, Inés Ibáñez de Maeztu (who has been in office since March 2021), will take office, as confirmed by sources from the institution.
In accordance with the regulations laid down in the 1985 Ararteko Act, the appointment must be approved by a three-fifths majority in the Basque Parliament, i.e. 45 of the 75 parliamentarians.
Government partners do not have the necessary majority: the PNV has 27 parliamentarians and the PSE 12. The necessary number would be done with the votes of the PNV and EH Bildu, which also has 27 representatives in the Basque Parliament.
However, most groups are likely to agree to a candidate.
The law provides that the Ombudsman is appointed for five years, and may only be re-elected once for the same period.
The period of exercise shall expire six months after the expiration of the term of office.
In the event of a vacancy, as in this case, the appointment procedure shall be initiated within one month of the appointment and publication in the Official Gazette of the Basque Parliament by the President of the Basque Parliament, Bakartxo Tejeria.
The Rules of Procedure of the House do not permit the opposition to such appointments, so that Members of Parliament may either only vote yes or abstain or vote blank.
The lawyer Manuel Lezertua was appointed on 28 May 2015 to replace Iñigo Lamarca and was re-elected on 18 February 2021 for another five years.
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