Justice Minister: Harabin should quit as judge

Supreme Court judge Štefan Harabin should give up his post of judge, said Justice Minister Gábor Gál (Most-Hid) after the Cabinet session on Wednesday, in reaction to Harabin's announcement on Tuesday (October 1) that he's founding a political party called Homeland ('Vlast' in Slovak). "Judges should decide whether they want to sit as judges or engage in politics," noted Gál. He said that the law on judges and associate judges states that a judge can't be a member of a political party or political movement, or be engaged in politics in any way. "I hope that Judge Harabin knows the law and will behave accordingly," he stated. Harabin told a news conference on Tuesday that he is the election leader of the new Homeland party. He didn't answer when asked by journalists whether he would remain in his post as judge. A new law to take effect on October 15 will debench judges who run for their national legislatures or the European Parliament.