A year ago, civil society movement
Repubblika sought court redress to stop the appointment of six new members of the judiciary on grounds of government interference in the choice. It insisted the system then in place gave the prime minister “arbitrary discretion” when selecting candidates.
The matter also ended up before the European Court of Justice, which, earlier this week, decided that the prime minister’s power to select judges from a shortlist does not breach EU law, adding this should only happen “in exceptional circumstances”.
Since the NGO’s action, the system has been changed and judges and magistrates are now appointed by the President of the Republic in accordance with the recommendations of the judicial appointments committee, which forms part of the Commission for the Administration of Justice. No politically appointed persons sit on the committee, although the chief justice is chosen by parliament.