Harabin out of Supreme Court President rally

Supreme Court judge Stefan Harabin told a news conference on Thursday he is withdrawing his candidacy for the post of Supreme Court president. He explained his decision with reference to President Zuzana Caputova's statement that she will not guarantee the automatic appointment of a candidate who's been elected to the post. Harabin stated that the president is an example of how the "top political caste are trying to steal the country and take it all for themselves." The president said on Radio Expres earlier this week that she "will not appoint persons with a controversial professional or personal story." Harabin is known for his alleged phone calls with Albanian Baki Sadiki, who has been sentenced for producing and selling drugs. The new Supreme Court president will be elected at an extraordinary meeting of the Judicial Council slated for September 9. Jana Bajankova, Iveta Macejkova and Sona Mesiarkinova are running for the post. The Judicial Council will decide on the candidates in a secret ballot. In order to be submitted by the council to the president, a candidate needs to gain more than half the votes of the Judicial Council members.