ZAGREB, Feb 3 (Hina) - Six opposition MPs at the Croatian parliament's House of Representatives on Wednesday said they would not vote in a motion on the appointment of Milan Vukovic as judge in Croatia's Constitutional Court. The
bench of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) on the other hand endorses the motion. Croatia's Constitutional Court should have 11 judges, but only ten have been on duty since early 1997. The House of Counties a few days ago suggested the appointment of Vukovic, who put his duty as Supreme Court president at disposal on January 23, as the eleventh judge. The opposition assessed the appointment of Vukovic would be an inappropriate choice and evidence that politics was arbitrating in the judiciary. The Liberal Party bench said Vukovic's move into the Constitutional Court was an attempt to install him atop the Court. The Croatian Peasants' Party agreed t
ZAGREB, Feb 3 (Hina) - Six opposition MPs at the Croatian
parliament's House of Representatives on Wednesday said they would
not vote in a motion on the appointment of Milan Vukovic as judge in
Croatia's Constitutional Court.
The bench of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) on the other
hand endorses the motion.
Croatia's Constitutional Court should have 11 judges, but only ten
have been on duty since early 1997. The House of Counties a few days
ago suggested the appointment of Vukovic, who put his duty as
Supreme Court president at disposal on January 23, as the eleventh
judge.
The opposition assessed the appointment of Vukovic would be an
inappropriate choice and evidence that politics was arbitrating in
the judiciary.
The Liberal Party bench said Vukovic's move into the Constitutional
Court was an attempt to install him atop the Court.
The Croatian Peasants' Party agreed that the empty place in the
Constitutional Court had been waiting for Vukovic.
The Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) cannot agree to see people
promoted if they showed no results at their previous post.
According to the HSLS bench, Vukovic did not show such results.
Alongside several other MPs, the HSLS bench warned that the state
panel of judges had not voiced its opinion with regard to the
disposal of Vukovic's duty as head of the Supreme Court. He could
simultaneously happen to hold both posts, they said.
The Istrian Democratic Assembly bench said the judges of the
Constitutional Court were divided with regard to Vukovic's
joining, and concluded forcing Vukovic to that position was
exclusively a consequence of a political decision.
The HDZ bench however backs Vukovic's appointment. Vladimir Seks
said it was hypocritical to claim that political and judicial
authority were not connected.
There is no country in Europe where parliaments do not have a
determined role in choosing top officials in the judiciary, he
said, adding that when parliament chooses, the ruling majority is
the one to decide who will be proposed and elected.
(hina) ha jn