The Constitutional Court has decided to postpone its decision on the constitutionality of several articles of the vetting law until September 28.
On April 10, the Constitutional Court had already rejected several elements from the vetting law. However, the current case, submitted by the Union of Judges, touches upon several core aspects of the vetting process, including the right of an assessee to resign from their function at any point in the vetting process, thus putting a stop to the process.
Although the vetting procedure has already started with the installation of the vetting institutions, the postponement of the Constitutional Court’s decision comes at a crucial moment. On September 28, the new Rama government will have been installed, as well as the new Parliament. Moreover, the first results of the vetting procedures will probably have become public, starting with the members of the new institutions such as the High Prosecutorial Council and High Judicial Council. It is expected that the Constitutional Court judges themselves will be also on the top of the list.
It is not sure whether indeed the first results of the vetting will be public by the end of September.
Meanwhile, the government has allegedly started to put pressure on one of the judges, instructing the High Inspectorate of the Declaration and Audit of Assets and Conflict of Interest (ILDKPKI) to prepare a lawsuit for hiding assets.
The government considers a successful start of the judicial reform an essential accomplishment in view of the upcoming European Commission Progress Report and the opening of EU accession negotiations.
