Štefan Harabin to run for chair of the Supreme Court

The unsuccessful presidential candidate and former justice minister, and currently Supreme Court judge Štefan Harabin will run for the post of chair of the Supreme Court in the September election. The motive behind his candidacy is in his own words the ongoing 'Mafianisation' of the Supreme Court. Several politicians question Harabin's intention in running for this post, with many saying that as a candidate for the Slovak presidency given his past record he cannot guarantee his independence and moral integrity. "Mr. Harabin should make it clear whether he is a politician or still a judge," non-affiliated MP and former justice minister Lucia Žitňanská told TASR, seeing his ambitions in politics as "disqualifying him for the position not only of chair of the court but also of judge". The vote by the Judicial Council is scheduled for September 9, 2019. The incumbent Supreme Court chair Daniela Švecová's five-year term will expire in October. Harabin has already served as Supreme Court chair - between 2009-2014.