Izvor: N1 televizija, 17.Okt.2018, 17:18 (ažurirano 02.Apr.2020.)
Serbia’s legal experts:Judiciary still under political clout
The fourth version of the amendments to Serbia’s constitution further strengthened political influence over the judiciary, several law and civil organisations agreed on Wednesday, the Beta news agency reported.
Members of the Association of Public Prosecutors and their Deputies, the Society of Judges, Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights, Center for Judicial Research and Belgrade Centre for Human Rights warned that the depoliticisation of the judiciary was the critical reason >> Pročitaj celu vest na sajtu N1 televizija << for the constitutional changes.
However, they cautioned that the last draft went only under cosmetic changes, “to certain extent correcting some logical and technical mistakes,” but left room for political influence contrary to comments and advice from the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission.
They said that Serbia had to adopt the constitutional amendments within the framework of its European integration, i.e., in line with the Action Plan concerning chapters 23 and 24 (justice, freedom and security) in the accession negotiations.
The Commission called on Serbia in June to seek a different solution for the election of the High Judicial Council’s (VSS) members.
It offered assistance to Belgrade in drafting the amendments, since its opinion on the country’s justice system would affect the opening of chapter 23.
Both Serbia’s Justice Minister Nela Kuburovic and President Aleksandar Vucic have said that the Commission comments will be thoroughly honoured.
