Spain’s cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill to let prosecutors lead criminal investigations instead of court magistrates, aiming to bring the country’s outdated justice system in line with other European nations.

Spain’s unique system whereby “investigating magistrates” lead criminal probes dates back to 1882, and the proposed move is the most significant reform in the area to date, Justice Minister Felix Bolanos told a news briefing.

In Line With European Peers

He said the change proposed by the minority leftist administration sought to adapt the Spanish model to those of most democracies, so that “judges are there to judge and execute the judgements while investigations are carried out by the Public Prosecutor’s Office”.

Judges would still supervise prosecutors to ensure fundamental

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