President Kiska de-benches 47 judges over 65

On Friday, President Andrej Kiska has de-benched 47 judges who had reached the age 65. Kiska undertook this step in line with the Slovak Constitution and at the proposal of the Judicial Council. In late 2015, the President claimed that the Judicial Council was violating the Constitution and the Act on Judges because it wasn't submitting him proposals to dismiss judges over 65. Kiska then stressed that such unconstitutional behaviour displayed by the majority on the Judicial Council should be noticed by both the Government and the Parliament, which nominated some of the members. The head of state also emphasised that he wishes to make the de-benching process completely transparent. Despite the related constitutional amendment being discussed by the Parliament in the past, the automatic retirement of judges after they reach a certain age, as requested by Kiska, has never made it into the legislation.