Judge: We Cannot Wait for New Parliament to Change the Constitution

Serbian Constitution (BETAPHOTO)

Serbian Supreme Court Judge Vladan Petrov said on Dec. 27 that the upcoming referendum on amendments to the Serbian Constitution, scheduled for Jan. 16, pertains solely to changes to the judiciary and that there is no chance of any last minutes alterations to another part of the document, particularly not to the Preamble, concerning Kosovo and Metohija.

"I guarantee that the constitutional amendments were written by [legal experts], not politicians. The final decision is up to the people," Petrov, who was a member of the working group for changing the constitution, told the Vecernje Novosti daily.

Asked about the fact that some political parties are encouraging citizens to vote No, Petrov explained that the opposition sees the current Parliament as illegitimate because it is dominated by a single party. According to him there is no guarantee that the composition of Parliament will significantly change with the next elections.

"Does this mean that the constitutional changes necessary for strengthening the rule of law and for the better protection of citizens' rights in the courts will have to wait until Parliament, in someone's opinion, becomes pluralist enough? And who has the right to make such a judgment if not the people themselves at elections?" Petrov concluded.