The Saeima could consider nominating the Member of the Saeima Inese Lībiņa-Egneri (JV) for the position of the Chairperson of the Constitutional Court, according to unofficial information at the disposal of TV3 Ziņas.
The vacancy for a judge of the Court of Justice of the European Union for Latvia has been vacant since the resignation of President Egils Levits a year ago. Latvia will now be represented in court in Luxembourg by the current President of the Constitutional Court – Ineta Ziemele. In the near future, the Saeima deputies will have to choose a candidate to replace Ziemele.
The successor may be nominated by at least 10 Members, and the Chair urges politicians to do so as soon as possible. The first names of potential applicants are beginning to be heard in the corridors.
“Taking into account the workload of the Constitutional Court, the court cannot afford to be composed of six judges. (..) Of course, they can, because the quorum is five judges, the court will not stop, but simply the number of cases that each judge has to prepare increases, and that is a huge workload, ”explained Ziemele.
On September 3, the Saeima adopted changes that provide that when going to work in an international institution, a person may return to the Constitutional Court after leaving office and work for the remaining term. Ziemele welcomes the amendments introduced, pointing out that the Latvian legislator has found a certain solution in order not to lose its top judges.
Ziemele said that this solution could also apply to her case. If there is a vacancy, she will probably have the opportunity and desire in the future to complete almost half of her remaining term as the President of the Constitutional Court – something she has not yet managed to complete for the benefit of the Constitutional Court.
In the interim between the departure of Ziemele and the arrival of a new judge, the work of the court will not be disrupted and there will be no problems with management. At the same time, she urges those in power to think about how to prepare lawyers for such prestigious and international positions.
The information at the disposal of TV3 Ziņi suggests that the Saeima could consider the intention to nominate Inese Lībiņa-Egneri, the representative of “Jaunā Vienotības”, to the position of the Chairman of the Constitutional Court.
Egnere said no political party or politician had addressed him at the moment. However, it was stated that, being aware, it has been assessed by a respectable colleague in the legal environment, which has been an assessment in connection with the possibility to run for the Constitutional Court.
“If such an assessment were really from the political factions represented in the Saeima and I could discuss this issue with them, I would consider the possibility to run,” said Lībiņa-Egnere.
The deputy, realizing the importance of political neutrality in this position, would resign from the party if he were elected Chairman of the Constitutional Court.
Ziemele will take up her new position only after taking the solemn oath before the Court of Justice of the European Union. It is not yet known when this will happen.
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