Romanian CC Called To Solve Conflict Between Magistrates And Govt

Andreies said the CSM and the High Court of Justice have not granted their authorization on the budget revision.

This would be the fourth time CSM calls on the Constitutional Court to rule on a conflict between the judicial power and the other state bodies. In two previous cases, the Constitutional Court acknowledged the existence of a conflict and denied it in the third.

Magistrate professional associations sent a request to the CSM, demanding it take notice of the conflict with the Government, as they do not agree with the unitary wage law.

The general assembly of magistrates met between April 24 and 29, to discuss the text of their resolution to the CSM. They asked for the elimination of all manner of discrimination in the judicial system, the transfer of the legal stamp tax from the budget of local authorities to the Justice department, respecting the principle of independence of magistrates, the allowance of 1% from the GDP for the budget of the judicial system.

The magistrates’ resolution was adopted Thursday by the CSM with amendments, including notifying the Constitutional Court and the High Court of Justice taking over the budget of courts as of January 1, 2010.

Also, CSM, the president of the High Court and the Romanian prosecutor general decided to approach the Prime Minister and President in order to adopt the common declaration regarding the stability and predictability of magistrates.

Judicial power authorities and the representatives of professional associations will draft a law regarding the salaries of magistrates in the legal system.