Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič returned to parliament an amendment to the Judicial Council Act, the TASR newswire reported on Thursday, November 4, citing the President's Office press department. In order to break the presidential veto at least 76 MPs must now vote in favour of the amendment.
The president said he objects to the fact that the amendment passed by MPs bans members of the Judicial Council – a 15-member body that oversees professional and disciplinary matter affecting judges – from simultaneously serving as chairs and vice-chairs of courts. "In my opinion, the law cannot enact incompatibility in terms of a Judicial Council member and a chairman or vice-chairman of a court," said Gašparovič.
The amendment was also designed to make Judicial Council sessions public – except for votes on certain personnel issues. The law was due to come into effect as of January 1, 2011.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
5. Nov 2010 at 10:00