Serbia sets referendum on depoliticising judicial appointments

1/12/2021 7:17

        Serbian lawmakers on Tuesday approved a Jan. 16 referendum on amendments to the constitution that would depoliticise the appointment of prosecutors and
        judges to help qualify Serbia for eventual accession to the European Union.
        
        The amendments would transfer the power to elect senior members of the judiciary from parliament to a High Judicial Council and High Prosecutors Council.
        The referendum was backed by 193 deputies from President Aleksandar Vucic's coalition in the 250-seat parliament and will be held on Jan. 16, Ivica Dacic, parliament speaker and leader of the co-ruling Socialists, told reporters.
        
        "It is in (the Serbian people's) best interest to confirm this decision... (which) will be a big step forward on Serbia's path to the EU," Dacic said.