Malenica: Đurđević agreed on two occasions to be candidate in unlawful procedure

Minister of Justice and Administration Ivan Malenica said on Thursday that President Zoran Milanović's recommendation for Supreme Court president, Zlata Đurđević, had twice agreed to be a candidate in an unlawful procedure which he considers to be disrespect for Croatian laws.

"Đurđević has twice agreed to be a candidate in an unlawful procedure. The first time was 15 days ago and yesterday when the President once again sent his recommendation for Mrs Đurđević to Parliament and with that, she has shown disrespect for the Croatian laws that the Constitutional Court has declared as being constitutional," Malenica told the press after a cabinet meeting.

On Thursday, President Milanović called on the State Judicial Council (DSV) to urgently reissue a public call for the position for Supreme Court President, saying that he would not recommend any of the candidates who applied in the previous call.

"Zlata Đurđević, like any other candidate meeting the criteria under the DSV Act, can respond to the public call. This is when President Milanović can recommend a candidate to Parliament," said Malenica.

Asked by reporters whether the Courts Act would be amended, which now stipulates that the President of the Supreme Court is appointed by Parliament at the proposal of the President of the Republic and based on a prior opinion of a general assembly of the Supreme Court and the relevant parliamentary committee, Malenica said that it was yet to be considered whether the law would be amended and that he would insist on the observance of the public call procedure.

The term of the incumbent Supreme Court President Đuro Sessa ends on 15 July and he will be replaced by his deputy until the appointment of the new president. "We got this situation covered," said Malenica.

He confirmed that Zlata Đurđević would not be appointed.

Malenica also commented on a motion by the Bridge party to replace Sessa, saying that the Constitution provides that Parliament can dismiss a Supreme Court President, but on the recommendation of the President of the Republic. "That motion by Bridge is not in line with the Constitution," he added.

He also commented on how convicted Dinamo football club official Zoran Mamić was able to cross the border to Bosnia and Herzegovina, saying that Osijek County Court could have issued precautionary measures based on the Criminal Code.

Asked whether security vetting would be introduced for judges, Malenica said that that was planned as part of the strategy to combat corruption as well as reintroducing re-election of judges.

"I have said that we will prepare an anti-corruption package for judicial officials. I don't wish to come out with any details for the time being but we will head in the direction of more frequent security checks and other concepts of assessing judges," he said.

He added that the judges that convict Zdravko Mamić called out for corruption were last checked when they were selected as judges in the USKOK anti-corruption section, but he wasn't sure what year that was.

Malenica also announced a judicial inspection of Osijek County Court. "I hope that in the next few days inspectors will head for Osijek to conduct an inspection and determine what the situation there is like," he said.

Text: Hina

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