Russia crossed the line between democracy and the pretence of democracy when, during Putin’s time in government, the Kremlin began artificially extending the terms of office of its loyalists in the judiciary. From there, it took less than ten years for judges’ rulings to start being written by members of United Russia. Slovenia is currently in the first stage, where special laws are being passed to ensure that “their” judges, who would otherwise have to retire, remain in office.
During the debate on the draft law on judges, Lena Grgurevič, chair of the National Assembly’s Committee on Justice from the Freedom Movement party (Gibanje Svoboda), proposed an amendment stipulating that the judicial function of the President of the Supreme Court does not cease at the age of 70 at the latest, as an exception would apply to him or her: the term would only end when his or her term as President of the Supreme Court expires. It seems that this is a real lex specialis, written exclusively for the current President of the Supreme Court, Miodrag Đorđević, who should have retired this year. According to Grgurević’s amendment (written, of course, by “experts” within left-wing interest groups), Đorđević’s term would not expire until 2029.
Protection for the judicial defender of left-wing politics
Đorđević’s term should expire in just over two months. The Ministry of Justice wanted to propose only a minor change – namely, that judges should serve until the end of the year in which they turn 70. Given that Đorđević took office in 2013, it is clear that he should retire, so the previously proposed change would only extend his term until the end of the year, but this was obviously not enough for the coalition, so they took the Russian approach.
The amendment concerns exclusively the President of the Supreme Court, whose term of office is being extended ad hoc without any explanation, so that, in theory, in the future, even 78-year-olds will be able to wander around the rooms of the Supreme Court like Joe Biden, wondering where their office is. All because they want to keep “their” judge on the Supreme Court, who has guaranteed left-wing bias for more than a decade.
A ridiculous excuse
Well, there is one reason for the amendment after all, but the reason is so banal and trivial that it is hardly worth mentioning, as it is clearly a political ploy. In their explanation of Đorđević’s position, they say that the President of the Supreme Court “represents an important symbol of continuity, prudence, and institutional wisdom, which are extremely valuable for the functioning of the judiciary in the current circumstances.” The extension of his judicial function is thus said to be “in the public interest, as it contributes to the preservation of the independence and stability of the judicial system.” This interpretation is, of course, completely absurd, as we could then say the same about every president of any judicial institution and in the future, we could then extend the terms of constitutional judges, presidents of district, county, and higher courts… Where is the line? In the end, as in Russia, all judges will be members of “United Slovenia.”
The background of their ad hoc operation
According to the media outlet Domovina (Homeland), the operation also had a very specific personnel background, regardless of the fact that leftists in the judiciary have continuity guaranteed even for the next generation to come and therefore do not need to worry about any “uninvited guests” coming in.
The campaign for the so-called lex Đorđević is believed to be linked to efforts to prevent the appointment of Damjan Orož to the post of President of the Supreme Court. Orož is an ideological leftist who is not part of the circle around the current President, Miodrag Đorđević. He is also considered to be independent, while the election of Marjeta Švab Širok would mean continuity of Đorđević’s current leadership. In the background, Đorđević’s partner, Tina Brecelj, is said to be lobbying the Ministry of Justice to find a solution for him after he was not nominated for the post of Constitutional Court Judge. Meanwhile, the President of the Republic has nominated his former wife, Nina Betetto, and Primož Gorkič for the position.
Criminal activity
The amendment was proposed so brazenly that it seems as if the current coalition already sees itself as the Slovenian version of Putin’s regime, which has occupied all institutions to such an extent that no one can touch it anymore. The amendment would take effect immediately, rather than in 2027, like the other amendments in the judiciary that have been proposed, which means that it was obviously hastily written to “save” Đorđević. This is a clearly unconstitutional amendment, but the champions of the immortal revolution in the Constitutional Court will, of course, have no problem approving it, just as they have already approved a whole bunch of other left-wing unconstitutional proposals. The question is, where is the line? What else can they get away with before the alarm bells start ringing in the European Union as well? Can the EU afford to have a Putinist regime on its doorstep?
I. K.
