With 73 votes in favor and one abstention, Parliament passed the Judicial Council Bill on Monday.
Among the key novelties, according to the Justice Ministry, are transparency in the procedure to elect Council President, specifying criteria for the election of members from the ranks of so-called prominent attorneys, a public debate on election of non-judicial candidates aiming at greater transparency, and strengthening criteria for election, accountability, and dismissal of members from the ranks of judges, the Justice Ministry said.
The opposition voted in favor, saying it was doing so because the text was part of the Reform Agenda. However, it stated that the manner in which the text had entered procedure in Parliament was not fair and that the delay had resulted in loss of funds.