President of Finnish Supreme Court prompted European Justice Commissioner to request clarifications from Hungary over planned judicial reforms

Pauliine Koskelo

print this

The President of the Finnish Supreme Court has raised concerns with the European Commission regarding questionable changes to be introduced to the Hungarian judicial system.
      Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding is demanding clarification from the Hungarian authorities with regard to the controversial reforms that include, for example, the compulsory lowering of the judges’ retirement age, plus certain changes that call into question the independence of the judiciary in the country.
      Reding met with Hungarian authorities on Tuesday and demanded further clarification by Friday.
     
According to information obtained by Helsingin Sanomat, the Commission was prodded into action specifically by the President of the Finnish Supreme Court Pauliine Koskelo, who approached Reding’s cabinet by letter.
      “In my opinion things are taking place in Hungary that are not in accordance with the principles of a constitutional state. According the European Union’s basic agreement, the member states are bound by the constitutional state principles and therefore the realisation of these principles by the member countries is important”, Koskelo told Helsingin Sanomat over the telephone.
     
Koskelo said that she was convinced that even without her letter the Commission must have been aware of what is happening in Hungary.
      “I am sure that the Commission’s intervention is not based solely on the information from me.”
      Reding’s letter to the Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary says that many supreme court judges, members of the European Parliament, and NGOs have complained about the issue.
      In Hungary, a rewriting of the constitution is currently taking place, a matter which is being closely monitored by the Commission.
      The new constitution is feared to weaken the pillars of democracy in Hungary and to shore up the right-wing party Fidesz, which is currently wielding power in the country.
      The changes to be introduced to the judiciary are part of this renewal process.
      For example, with the lowering of the mandatory retirement age of the judges Fidesz is suspected of aiming to fill the freed-up positions with its own favourites.


Links:
  Supreme Court of Finland
  European Commission - Viviane Reding

Helsingin Sanomat