Opposition Blasts Political Affiliation of Constitutional Court President

Vladan Petrov (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC)

Newly elected president of the Constitutional Court of Serbia Vladan Petrov is through his statements trying to normalize political control over the judiciary, thereby mocking the rule of law, a vice-president of the opposition Freedom and Justice Party, Goran Petrovic, said on Feb. 13.

"While Petrov complains through a quasi-scientific metaphor about a lack of laboratory conditions for the independence of judges, he actually confirms that the Constitutional Court has become a laboratory for the legalization of Aleksandar Vucic's political self-will. The notion that human nature is an obstacle to independence is not only an affront to every jurist who cares about ethics and integrity, but also a shameless attempt at normalizing political control over the judiciary," said Petrovic.

He said that commenting on Petrov's statement of Feb. 12, that Constitutional Court judges should be absolutely independent, but that it was not completely feasible because it would mean "we have to produce them in some kind of test tube."

Petrov's election to the office of Constitutional Court president has sparked criticism among experts because he is someone who has signed several public petitions of support for the policy of Aleksandar Vucic and has had regular guest appearances on pro-government televisions, where he has praised Vucic's moves and criticized his political opponents.