Supreme Court chairman Štefan Harabin sent an open e-mail to Slovak judges on Thursday, May 24, in response to what he alleges have been various "conspiracy meetings of regional court chairs and circulating notes", the TASR newswire reported, citing the Supreme Court press department. The message, which contains the names of Judicial Council candidates, is displayed on his private website and clearly indicates which of the candidates enjoys his confidence.
Harabin says he deliberately named more candidates in the e-mail names than judges can vote for, so that his activity cannot be construed as a campaign or any form of pressure. "I don't conceal my opinions and I'm democratically allowed to say freely who enjoys my confidence. It is beneath a judge's dignity to exert any pressure, send notes at courts ... nor secret e-mails or organising of conspiratorial meetings of selected court chairmen," said Harabin. "Every judge is entitled to make a decision freely and even express their opinion publicly via e-mail, if they want."
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.
