Hungarian MPs on Monday approved the appointment of a new president of the Supreme Court, despite strong criticism from magistrates worried about the independence of the judicial system in their country.
Zsolt Andras Varga, 52, received the support of two-thirds of the members of Parliament (135 votes in favor, 26 against), dominated by the Fidesz party of the sovereignist Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
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From January 2021, he will replace Peter Darak, who at the beginning of 2012 took over the head of the institution called "Kuria" (historic name meaning "manor"), after the sidelining of a magistrate openly critical of the regard to power.
This appointment, for a period of nine years, was overwhelmingly rejected by the National Council of the Judiciary (OBT).
Law professor and former member of the Constitutional Council, Zsolt Andras Varga has
"no experience as a judge,"
OBT spokesperson Viktor Vadasz wrote on Twitter.
He recalled the recent adoption of two amendments which conveniently put an end to the practice according to which any President of the Supreme Court in Hungary must, since the fall of the communist regime, have such experience.
Zsolt Andras Varga also worked for several years as Deputy Attorney General Peter Polt, a loyalist of Viktor Orban.
This election is
"contrary to the principle of judicial independence",
concludes the OBT.
Since his return to power in 2010, Viktor Orban has been regularly accused by the European Union (EU) of undermining the rule of law.
According to several international organizations, he undermined the independence of the judiciary, silenced many media such as liberal cultural circles and attacked academic freedoms.
In 2018, the European Parliament accused Budapest of a
"serious violation"
of EU values and activated a procedure under Article 7 of the EU Treaty, which can in theory lead to sanctions.
The Commission also delivered at the end of September its first comparative report on respect for the rule of law in EU countries, not sparing its criticism of Hungary where the consequences of justice reforms are provoking of
"serious concerns".
