The Spanish General Council of the Legal Profession (Consejo General de la Abogacía Española) hosted the presentation of the book Sobre el imperio de la ley, written by lawyer Javier Cremades, president of the World Jurist Association and the World Law Foundation. The event went beyond a mere book launch, becoming a space for shared reflection on the current standing of the Rule of Law and the challenges facing constitutional democracy.
The meeting brought together prominent figures from the legal and institutional spheres, including the president of the Spanish General Council of the Legal Profession, Salvador González; the president of the Constitutional Court, Cándido Conde-Pumpido; and the professor of Constitutional Law and emeritus magistrate of the Constitutional Court, Manuel Aragón Reyes, along with a video intervention by Professor Dr. Stephan Harbarth, president of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany, who provided different perspectives on the main themes of the work and its relevance in the current context. The conversation was moderated by María Rey, president of the Madrid Press Association, who led the dialogue toward a clear and accessible reflection on issues that directly affect democratic coexistence.
Throughout the event, it was emphasized that the Rule of law is neither an abstract principle nor a reality that is automatically guaranteed. Instead, it is a construction that demands constant vigilance, institutional respect, and civic commitment. The speakers highlighted the importance of the separation of powers, legal certainty, and the role of the legal profession in defending fundamental rights and freedoms. They also addressed the risks posed by the delegitimization of institutions, the erosion of public trust, and political polarization.
For his part, Javier Cremades explained that the work stems from a concern regarding the progressive wear and tear of the Rule of Law. He noted that these processes do not always manifest abruptly, but rather through seemingly formal dynamics that can hollow out constitutional principles. The author defended the need to recover a shared understanding of the law as a limit to power and an essential guarantee of democracy. He also stressed the urgency of stimulating civic debate and providing tools to identify the deep, seemingly undetectable transformations that weaken the Rule of Law.
The book, published by Galaxia Gutenberg, is presented as a contribution to public and legal debate, and as an invitation to a calm and rigorous reflection on the centrality of the law in democratic societies. The work features a foreword by Stephen Breyer, Justice of the United States Supreme Court (1994-2022), and an epilogue by Stephan Harbarth.
