KDH: Real Problems of Judiciary Unaddressed, Special Interests Take Priority

Bratislava, 29 December (TASR) - Genuine problems bedevilling the justice system largely went unaddressed by the Justice Ministry this year, or once again they had to give way to the promotion of partial personal interests — a regrettable waste of expertise, former justice minister and opposition KDH vice-chair Viliam Karas has stated in a year-end interview for TASR. Karas added that expertise still exists even within the leadership of the Justice Ministry, but it constantly plays second fiddle to absurd political demands, He nevertheless views positively the fact that, after a long period of denying reality, at least an attempt has begun to address the rise in petty theft, the result of poor changes to the Criminal Code pushed through by the current government. "However, even this attempt was ultimately totally devalued by further demands from advisers installed at the ministry, who are pushing the interests of their own clique there," argued Karas. The MP noted, however, that there's a silver lining to everything negative. According to him, the governing coalition's latest legislative steps adopted via fast-tracked legislative procedures have at least provided a good opportunity for the Constitutional Court to finally find the courage to limit these practices. "If the Constitutional Court has so far been restrained, I think that this was the final straw and that a correction became necessary," said Karas. He doesn't see any major problem in the amendment to the Act on Judges and Lay Judges, under which the Judicial Council, as a collective body, will be able to file disciplinary motions against judges and will also select lay judges for the database of disciplinary panels. However, with regard to the Judicial Council, Karas would welcome greater protection against political interference in its composition so that nominees of the government, Parliament and president can't be so easily replaced purely for political reasons. According to him, the Judicial Council should be better shielded from electoral cycles. "I criticised this when such a change was adopted, the current government strongly criticised it when it was in opposition, and it's something the European Commission continues to reproach us for," added Karas. As for the judiciary, Karas said that it more or less functions as a whole, even in view of the conditions and constant attempts to take control of independent institutions, as well as a series of ill-considered semi-reforms from previous periods. "This is the result of the individual courage of many judges, for which I sincerely thank them. The same applies to other bodies, and especially the police. I also want to express great appreciation for all the brave police officers who stick to their professional honour, even when their leadership totally fails," said Karas. mf/df