Constitutional court

BELGRADE - A request by the so-called Kosovo's constitutional court for admission to the Conference of European Constitutional Courts (CECC) has been rejected after failing to attain the required two-third majority at a May 22-23 meeting of the Circle of Presidents of the CECC, the Constitutional Court of Serbia announced on Tuesday.

TThe date for the election of the new president of the Constitutional Court has been designated as March 21, as the term of office of current head Zühtü Arslan is set to conclude on April 20.

Constitutional Court President Zühtü Arslan underlined that the rulings by the top court are binding for everyone, including the executive, legislative, and judiciary bodies, after some of its verdicts have not been implemented by the lower and appeal courts.

With a landmark ruling by the Constitutional Court entering into force on Jan. 28, married women are now able to use their maiden surname without resorting to court proceedings.

In a recent parliamentary session, two new judges, Desislava Atanasova and Borislav Belazelkov, secured their positions on the Constitutional Court, representing the legislature's quota. Atanasova, the former floor leader of GERB-SDS, earned her nomination from the party, while Belazelkov was put forward by We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria.

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç has proposed the necessity of drafting a new constitution in the wake of a deepening disagreement between the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court over the imprisonment of MP Can Atalay.

The minister's proposition aligns with the long-standing efforts of the government.

The best way to resolve the ongoing row between the two high courts is the new constitution, as the current charter has contradictory articles about the duties and responsibilities of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Appeals, Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç has said.

The Supreme Court of Appeals has decided to file criminal complaints against members of the Constitutional Court over a profound disagreement on the case of imprisoned Workers' Party of Türkiye (TİP) lawmaker Can Atalay, in a first and unprecedented legal dispute in the history of the Turkish judiciary.

The Slovenian government has adopted a bill that halts all infraction proceedings for breaking covid-era rules that were later declared unconstitutional, which will affect fines totalling several million euros.

There is no unconstitutionality in sending military aid to Ukraine, decided the Bulgarian Constitutional Court (CC).