With the vote of the absolute majority, the deputies of the Congress of the Republic convened this April 16 the nomination committees for the election of the judges of the Supreme Court of Justice and Courts of Appeals. The process occurs following the members of the Judicial Career Council notified the Legislature last week regarding the expiration of the term of the current magistrates.
Prior to the call, President Bernardo Arévalo last March asked the Organization of American States (OAS) to become an observer of the process. Request that yesterday during the plenary session the deputies “crossed out” as a possible interference.
Representative Sandra Jovel, a member of the Valor bloc, assured that independence must prevail in the work of renewing the courts. “It is very important because there has to be, first, a separation of powers. This is where each of the State bodies must really decide what is going to happen in the country.”
Interference
The opposition congresswoman considered that the call made by the president was not the most accurate. “No international organization should be having any type of interference here in the election of courts, as stated by President Bernardo Arévalo, who sent a letter to the OAS. “I think it was a very unfavorable decision.”
Deputy Manuel Archila, from the Cabal legislative bloc, said that the call made by Congress is correct, considering how key the judicial power is.
“It is very important for the country that we follow legal certainty, that we understand that in democratic countries there are three powers and the judicial branch is fundamental. It is a pillar for respect for the law,” said the deputy.
Archila added that he respects the public call made by the president, but also questions it. “Independence must prevail, weights and counterweights chart the route of a nation. We believe that this type of action is not up to the Executive, Congress is sovereign and it is here that the magistrates who will occupy those positions should be chosen.”
Surveillance
In response, the official bloc of Congress, made up of independent deputies elected by the Semilla Movement, considered that they agree that there should be a certain degree of external surveillance in a process of this type.
“Given past experiences that have been disastrous, it is important to have the recommendation of the international community. An election of a State power is subject to observation, let us not forget that the coup d’état was intended to take place judicially,” argued the pro-government deputy, Andrea Reyes.
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