Rasi Announces Election of Candidates for Constitutional Court Judge

Bratislava, 9 January (TASR) - House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) announced the election of candidates to become a Constitutional Court judge on Friday, the Parliament Office's communications department has informed TASR. Rasi announced the election in connection with the fact that the term in office of Constitutional Court judge Jana Baricova will expire on 10 July. Proposals for candidates for the post of a constitutional judge must be delivered to the parliamentary constitutional committee no later than 27 March so that the election can take place at the parliamentary session due to begin on 26 May. "The Constitutional Court is a key institution in charge of protecting constitutionality and citizens' rights. That's why it's important that the election should take place within a clear and transparent framework and that there is enough time for an expert assessment of the nominations," said Rasi. The term in office of a Constitutional Court judge is 12 years. Jana Baricova has been serving as a constitutional judge since 10 July 2014. In line with the law, a constitutional judge remains in office even after his/her term in office expires, until a new constitutional judge is sworn in. The Constitutional Court should have 13 judges, but there's only been 12 of them for more than two years. Parliament still hasn't managed to elect candidates for a constitutional judge since one judge's seat became vacant in September 2023, when Jana Lassakova resigned from her post. MPs have already voted several times, candidates have applied for elections repeatedly, but none of them have yet gained the necessary number of votes. Parliament is supposed to elect twice as many nominees than needed, thereby giving the president two choices from which to pick one for the post. ko/df