Will you withdraw from the Judicial Council? – asked Minister Filkov to Kostadinovska-Stojchevska
SDSM MP Bisera Kostadinovska-Stojchevska, at today's parliamentary session dedicated to parliamentary questions, addressed a question to the Minister of Justice Igor Filkov, which concerns reforms in the judiciary.
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"You are responsible for one of the most crucial pillars of our society, which is justice. Judicial reforms are essential for democracy and the rule of law, but unfortunately, in the past seven months we have seen a departure from these principles. Despite your statements that you will incorporate the recommendations of the European Commission, your actions indicate the exact opposite, party appointments and insufficient independence of judicial institutions," the MP said.
According to her, recommendations to reduce political and business influence are not being followed, which further reduces public trust.
"In these seven months, we have not seen any reforms in the judicial system, although this is a key area in which action needs to be taken. Partisanship is reaching endemic proportions in institutions, but even more worryingly, in what should be the foundation of a democratic and just society – the judicial system. Your statements about legal changes by June 2025 act as a delay, not as an urgent and decisive response to the problems. Instead of implementing the announced reforms, we see increased partisanship in the judiciary, where key positions are acting according to political, not professional criteria. In the Assessment Mission, dear Minister, there are no recommendations for such appointments of judges and prosecutors. One thing is being said, and another is being done," she said.
Are you ready to take the right steps towards change or will you continue with empty words and formal announcements? Will you seize the concrete opportunity to start the reforms and implementation of the recommendations of the Assessment Mission? Will you, as the Minister of Justice, who is a member of the Judicial Council by function, step down from its membership and when do you plan to submit an initiative for constitutional amendments by which the Minister of Justice will no longer be part of the Judicial Council? These were the questions from the MP to Filkov.
