EIGHT NEW CONSTITUTIONAL COURT JUDGES TAKE OATH

ZAGREB, Dec 6 (Hina) - Eight new judges of the Croatian Constitutional Court on Monday took oaths before the President of the Croatian National Parliament, also acting President of the Republic, Vlatko Pavletic. #L# Oaths were taken by judges Smiljko Sokol, Marijan Hranjski, Ivan Mrkonjic, Vice Vukojevic, Petar Klaric, Emilija Rajic, Jasna Omejec and Ivan Matija. They were elected by the House of Representatives at the end of October. Judges of the Constitutional Court are elected for a term of eight years. The Constitutional Court consists eleven judges, eight of whom mandates have expired Monday. Congratulating the new judges, Pavletic stressed that by taking the oath they had taken on an enormous responsibility and task of consolidating the rule of the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia. The Constitutional Court has a special place in Croatian state authority which enables it to supervise the legislative, executive and judicial authorities within jurisdictions as set by the Constitution, Pavletic said. The new Constitutional Law on the Croatian Constitutional Court, adopted this September, has enabled a further strengthening of the position and effectiveness of the Constitutional Court in the protection of constitutionality and lawfulness, and the freedoms and rights of people and citizens, as guaranteed by the Constitution, he stressed. The eyes of the public will in this pre-election period be especially turned towards the Constitutional Court because of its authority to solve electoral disputes and supervising the constitutionality of elections, Pavletic said. He underlined that it was important for the citizens of Croatia to be aware of the fact that the Constitutional Court was an institution which would function not only in line with the Constitution, but also the obligation to work quickly and in accordance with the moral and human responsibility of solving problems in the interest of all citizens of the Republic of Croatia. (hina) lml