Venice Commission Confirms Flaws in Serbian Judicial Laws; Ex-Prosecutor Demands Annulment

The Venice Commission's latest opinion on Serbia's judicial laws has validated the concerns long voiced by domestic legal experts and critics of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Former prosecutor Jasmina Paunović highlighted that the commission's recommendations, particularly concerning the five amendments adopted in January, directly address the issues previously raised about these so-called "Mrdić laws."

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The regime tried to enslave the judicial branch, and the Venice Commission, with recommendations categorized into nine points, has ordered the restoration of prosecutorial independence and judicial autonomy.

Paunović stressed that these laws, named after SNS MP Uglješa Mrdić, not only deviate from the constitution and existing legislation but also attempt to subjugate the judiciary. The Venice Commission's explicit directives, detailed in nine points, call for the restoration of prosecutorial autonomy and judicial independence, directly challenging the government's actions.

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It is a disgrace for the Serbian authorities to allow foreigners to point out what the (domestic) professional public had already pointed out in time.

From the perspective of N1 Serbia, this is a critical moment. The government's haste in passing these laws, bypassing transparency and expert debate as noted by the Venice Commission, is a disservice to the rule of law. It is particularly galling that foreign bodies must point out flaws that were evident to Serbian professionals all along. The call for a new law to nullify the previous ones, and to retroactively invalidate any legal consequences stemming from them, is a necessary step towards rectifying this grave error and restoring faith in Serbia's legal system.

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If the laws themselves are null and void, then the legal consequences must also be considered null and void. All legal consequences should be considered as if they never occurred, because they are the result of shameful legal regulations.