From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Baltasar Garzón is a judge, or more correctly an investigating magistrate in Spain’s highest criminal tribunal, the National Court(Audiencia Nacional). Garzón is known in Spain as "Super Judge" or "judge-star".
Garzón rose to international prominence in 1998 for his issue of an arrest warrant for former Chilean president Augusto Pinochet over the deaths and torture of Spanish citizens during Pinochet's regime, using the Chilean Truth Commission (1990-91) report as the basis for the warrant.
Garzón has repeatedly expressed a desire to examine former United States Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, over a plot in the 1970s, known as Operation Condor.
Garzon opened the gates to charges of genocide being filed in Spain against Argentine military officers of genocide on the disappearance of Spanish citizens during Argentina's 1976-1983 dictatorship.
In April 2001, Garzon requested that the Council of Europe remove the immunity from prosecution enjoyed by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy as a member of the Council's parliamentary assembly.
In December 2001, Garzon launched an inquiry in into the offshore accounts of Spain's second largest bank BBVA for alleged money laundering offences.
In January 2003, Garzon fiercely criticised the United States government over the detention of al-Qaeda suspects in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
Cases in Spain
On the domestic front, Garzón has fought against Basque separatists: in October 2002 he suspended the operations of the Batasuna party for three years, alleging it is part of the armed group, ETA.
He has also closed the Basque newspapers Egin (and its radio station Egin Irratia) and Egunkaria.
Because of this activity, he is viewed with contempt by Basque nationalism who see him attacking Basque culture beyond ETA terrorism.
In 1993, he asked for a pause and went into politics of Spain running for Cortes in the roll of then ruling party PSOE. He was also declared head of a strengthened National Plan against Drugs by Spanish president Felipe González. Though, he soon ceased complaining of lack of support by the government.
His later investigations helped the conviction of a PSOE minister as head of the state terrorist group GAL. This was one of the factors that lead to the defeat of PSOE in next elections.
He has also investigated Jesús Gil, mayor of Marbella and owner of Atlético de Madrid, on grounds of corruption.
Critics
Critics complain against his perceived eagerness for public attention, that may have lead to hasty instructions that end in verdicts of innocence.External links
