Csaba Pecsenye appointed head of National Judicial Council in Hungary

The National Judicial Council (OBT) has elected Csaba Pecsenye as its head for a three-year term, the body said on Thursday.

Csaba Pecsenye appointed

Ahead of the meeting on Wednesday, the OBT received a letter from representatives of the Hungarian Judicial Association and the Res Iudicata Association protesting against the appointment, the statement said.

In response to several comments that the agreement “lacked legal grounding” and that the OBT had no mandate from judges to enter into an agreement, Pecsenye said the payment of judges and judicial employees, the preparation of legislation in connection with the judicial system, as well as opinions on relevant legislation was under the purview of the directing bodies of the judiciary, and so the agreement was compliant with the Fundamental Law and the law on the organisation and management of courts, Pecsenye said.

“The agreement itself doesn’t harm judges’ independence, although legislation as a means to achieve a certain goal does carry the danger that legislation harms judicial independence,” he said.

Commenting on the letter after a council discussion on the judges’ proposals on the agreement, Pecsenye said the decision was not “an insult to the honour of the body”. “It is possible that the OBT makes bad decisions from time to time, but that in itself doesn’t harm anyone’s honour. Rather than whipping up emotions, it would be better to find solutions to any possible bad decisions,” he said.