CONSTITUTIONAL COURT JUDGES AGAINST VUKOVIC'S APPOINTMENT

ZAGREB, Jan 26 (Hina) - The president and five judges of the Croatian Constitutional Court on Tuesday said the Croatian Constitution and constitutional law on the Croatian Constitutional Court does not contain preconditions which would justify Milan Vukovic's nomination for a judge of the Constitutional Court. Vukovic, who was until now the president of the Croatian Supreme Court, was on Monday recommended by the parliament's Lower House committee for the judiciary and appointments for the position of 11th judge of the Constitutional Court. Vukovic on Saturday put his mandate as president of the Supreme Court on disposal, retaining the position of a judge to the same court. Constitutional Court judges consider that Vukovic does not fulfil the criteria to be fit for a Constitutional Court judge because the situation in the judiciary severely deteriorated since he had taken up his post at the head of the Supreme Court. They also consider that some of Vukovic's public statements can be taken as invitations to not respect the Constitution. The Constitutional Court judges reminded that in his recent address on the state of the nation, President Franjo Tudjman said that the deterioration of the judiciary must be considered the personal responsibility of the highest judicial authorities. From that, the judges believe, it cannot be concluded that someone responsible for this situation can be given an even more responsible position. It is Vukovic's actions, the Constitutional Court judges believe, which have slowed down the efficiency of the judiciary, particularly with regard to decisions passed by the Constitutional Court which by law are obligatory and executive. The judges cited Vukovic's statements released in the press that the "Constitutional Court must not be allowed to evaluate judgements passed in the Supreme Court as the highest court in the country"; and that obligations resulting from decisions made by the Constitutional Court do not relate to judicial but rather only executive authorities. With statements like this, Vukovic has directly asked for the violation of the Constitution, the Constitutional Court judges asserted. The statement expressing the opinion of the judges was signed by Constitutional Court President Jadranko Crnic, vice presidents Jurica Malcic and Mladen Zuvela, and Judges Velimir Belajec, Hrvoje Momcinovic and Ante Jelavic. (hina) sp/ha jn