The criminal trial against the former president donald trumpaccused of falsifying documents to buy the silence of a porn actress and thus protect his run for the 2016 White House, takes a new step this Friday with the completion of the jury selection process after the six alternate members have been appointed.

The five substitute members of the jury that were missing to complete the team of 12 starters and six substitutes were selected this Friday. These were chosen from a total of 22 candidates and thus join the 12 starters, seven men and five women, already selected this Thursday.

Among the elected members is a woman of Spanish origin that surpassed the suitability filters applied by Judge Juan Merchán, the prosecutor’s office and the former ruler’s defense lawyers. However, there were other candidates who were discarded after stating that they suffered anxiety or “doubts” about the prospect of having to serve on the jury.

Additionally, a hearing was held in which prosecutors confirmed that if Trump takes the stand in this criminal trial, he will also be asked about his other legal battles, including two high-profile civil sentences for which he has been convicted in New York. The day was marked by an event outside the court walls: a man set himself on fire “in a bonzo style” abroad, being seriously injured, an event whose relationship with the trial is still unknown.

The seating of the jury today clears the way for the opening statements phase that will begin on Monday. Subsequently, the Manhattan district attorney’s office, where the case is being heard, will call its first witness. On the other hand, as revealed yesterday, the day on Monday will end at two in the afternoon due to the celebration of the Jewish Passover, and on Tuesday it will maintain the same schedule.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Trump, who is seeking to return to the White House in the November elections, participated in a plan with his then-lawyer Michael Cohen and others to influence the 2016 elections by suppressing negative information, including a payment of $130,000 to silence porn actress Stormy Daniels and that he did not air Trump’s relationship with her at a time when his wife Melania was pregnant.