Criminal responsibility and political responsibility: criteria for differentiation and coincidence

Abstract

Structural differences between political responsibility and criminal responsibility are analyzed, especially regarding their grounds and purposes. The fact that political responsibility is strict, even for others actions, moves us to consider some limits to it based on the criteria used for assessing tort liability. However, the main limit is to be drawn from the constitutional ban on arbitrariness. Finally, relationships between both kinds of responsibility are also analyzed in case they coincide on the same person.