Carmen Calvo Starts Process to Remove De la Vega from Council of State

Spanish politician Carmen Calvo has reportedly initiated legal proceedings aimed at having María Teresa Fernández de la Vega declared incapacitated in her role at the Council of State, according to a report published by ABC.

De la Vega, who previously served as Spain's vice-president, currently holds a lifetime seat on the council, a position normally retained until death or voluntary resignation.

The report states that De la Vega's long-standing illness is the reason behind Calvo's move to begin the incapacitation process, which would formally remove her from the position.

Journalist Ketty Garat, writing about the case, has described the action as a manoeuvre by Calvo to secure the permanent post for herself once De la Vega is removed.

The Council of State functions as one of Spain's principal advisory institutions, providing legal and political counsel to the national government on significant matters of state.

Because membership is typically for life, the removal of a sitting member through incapacitation is considered an unusual and legally complex procedure, requiring formal justification rather than a straightforward political appointment.

Both women have held prominent roles within Spanish politics over the years, which has contributed to the attention the case has attracted in national media.

The ABC report frames the situation as a dispute over influence and access to a coveted, permanent position within one of the state's most respected institutions.

As of the report's publication, no formal ruling or official confirmation regarding the outcome of the incapacitation process has been made public, and the timeline for any decision remains uncertain.

The case highlights broader questions about how lifetime institutional positions are handled when a holder becomes seriously unwell, and about the procedures in place to manage such situations fairly.