BRATISLAVA, January 21, (WEBNOVINY) — Speaking at the conference of the Open Society Foundation called Judicial Reform – Past and Future, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said she finds it a profound mistake if judges believe that the state of the judiciary has no impact on the economy. „The state of the judiciary has a direct significant impact on the business environment and thus the potential economic growth in each country, which is why it is so important to raise the credibility of Slovakia also in terms of its justice system,“ she said in the opening speech at the event in Bratislava on Friday morning.
A group of dissatisfied judges is using the argument that judges are unable to affect the economy in a petition they are circulating against a reduction of their salaries. According to the law, salaries of judges are tied to salaries of members of parliament. As part of its austerity program, parliament last year enacted a new rule according to which the bigger the budget deficit, the less MPs earn. Based on this rule, salaries of about two thousand constitutional officials, including 150-members of parliament and about 1,400 judges will be directly linked to the state budget performance. The judges warn that if parliament does not back down, they would claim their rights in court. The opposition SMER-SD plans a submission to the Constitutional Court concerning the reduction of salaries of judges. „We are in a deep crisis, in serious trouble. It is no coincidence as the first constitutional officials proceeded to reduce their own salaries,“ Radicova pointed out and added that „it is up to the judges what position they will adopt in this situation, because it is a certain expression of togetherness and solidarity with the situation in the country.“
The Prime Minister urged conference participants to become actively involved in judicial reform, which has already begun. „It is clear that the basic category that must lead us on our path is the category of trust,“ she said and emphasized that she regrets when according to results of surveys, less than one-third of the population in Slovakia trusts the judiciary. „The gap between justice and law in Slovakia is very deep and wide,“ she said. Enforcing laws, strength of the rule of law, low level of corruption, ability of the courts to decide on time, are the basic conditions of quality business environment, according Prime Minister Radicova.
Participants at the conference include 36 judges from the ten countries. Prime Minister Radicova said she considers such exchange of experience as very beneficial. She mentioned the example of resolving the problem of unauthorized buildings, where for example in Germany and Austria such building activity is classified as a criminal offense. Slovakia is preparing legislative changes in a similar direction. She also expects proposals regarding the possibility to enact accountability of public officials. „It is not possible that we only enforced the law in the relationship of the state and citizen and accountability is lacking in the relationship of the state and a public official,“ she said.
SITA
