Judicial Council Holds Talks on Mazak's Dismissal as Its Head, He Walks Out

Bratislava, April 16 (TASR) - The Judicial Council is holding talks on a proposal to dismiss Jan Mazak from the post of its chairman on Tuesday. Mazak originally wanted to include the proposal in the agenda of the council's May session. After the approval of this point in the session's agenda, he walked out of the room. Seven members of the Judicial Council have filed a motion to dismiss Mazak as council head because he is suspected of misusing his post. Mazak denies it. "I am not taking part in the session, as I haven't had a single day to prepare my reaction to the things that are mentioned in the proposal for my ouster," said Mazak. He noted that these are very serious accusations and that it would take some time to prepare positions on them. He claims that he is being blamed for something that is actually fully within his powers and wants to turn to the Constitutional Court in this connection. The motion to oust Mazak was backed by Marcela Kosova, Peter Samko, Ayse Pruzinec Eren, Dana Jelinkova Dudzikova, Marian Fecik, Ludmila Joanidisova and Martin Bezak. They claim that he has grossly misused his post by unlawfully collecting information against judges. Should Mazak be dismissed, he wouldn't automatically lose his post of Judicial Council member. Mazak originally wanted to address the issue at the May session, arguing that he has the right to defend himself within a reasonable period of time. Mazak also faced the motion to dismiss him from the helm of the Judicial Council in late 2023. Nine council members at that time voted for the proposal, which was not enough to dismiss him. Three council members refrained from voting and three were against. ko/mcs