ARGENTINA: Congress debates controversial judicial reforms

Record ID: 447376

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Congress debates controversial judicial reforms
  • Date: 24th April 2013
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (APRIL 24, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF CONGRESS BUILDING VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS CARRYING PROTEST SIGNS AGAINST JUDICIAL REFORM AND THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT CRISTINA FERNANDEZ A PROTESTER SHOUTING AGAINST CORRUPTION POLICE OFFICERS MOVING FENCING TO BLOCK DEMONSTRATORS FROM REACHING THE CONGRESS BUILDING VARIOUS OF CONGRESSMEN FROM THE MAJORITY PARTY CELEBRATING QUORUM ALLOWING THEM TO HOLD A SESSION SIGN MARKING QUORUM WITH 132 OF THE MAJORITY PARTY PRESENT VARIOUS OF OPPOSITION MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ENTERING CONGRESS TO BEGIN DEBATE VARIOUS OF DEBATE ON THE FLOOR OF CONGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OPPOSITION CONGRESSMAN, RICARDO ALFONSIN, SAYING: "There's not a lot of hope, it's true. But if they're able to approve the laws today, I am sure it will change the balance of power in parliament in 2013 and we're going to repeal to return to a system that guarantees the judicial branch is independent of the executive." CONGRESSMAN FRANCISCO DE NARVAEZ ARRIVING TO CONGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FRANCISCO DE NARVAEZ, SAYING: "This is a critical moment for democracy and the life of the republic in this country. It tries to submit political power over the justice system, the judges, and this distances justice from the citizenry, from a citizenry that wants to be equal before a judge whether they are the president or the poorest person in Argentina. If this becomes law it will make it more difficult for a citizen to be able to have access to equality in terms of justice." VARIOUS OF CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE
  • Embargoed: 9th May 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Legal System,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAD9DC29M0DKKG5TYK5M23QDMU
  • Story Text: As protesters gathered outside, members of Argentina's House of Representatives loyal to President Cristina Fernandez gathered enough support to reach a quorum, opening debate on three controversial measures the president has proposed to reform the country's judicial system.
    Opponents to the president's broad judicial reforms proposal, which includes public elections to pick members of the Magistrates Council - a powerful body that nominates and disciplines the nation's judges, argue it would allow Fernandez to appoint more judges sympathetic to her agenda.
    Pro-government congressmen, who needed 129 members present in order to advance the bill for debate, erupted in celebration when the official count showed 132 lawmakers present.
    Opposition congressmen, hoping the threshold would not be met, then began filing into the chamber to participate in the heated debate.
    The other measures proposed would create new appeals courts and add three more slots to the 13-member Magistrates Council, extending it to 19.
    During floor debate, opposition congressman Ricardo Alfonsin said the law, if passed, would alter the balance of power vowing to continue the fight into the future.
    "There's not a lot of hope, it's true. But if they're able to approve the laws today, I am sure it will change the balance of power in parliament in 2013 and we're going to repeal to return to a system that guarantees the judicial branch is independent of the executive," Alfonsin said.
    Congressman Francisco de Narvaez said the measures were a threat to democracy and submitted the judicial branch to the will of the president.
    "This is a critical moment for democracy and the life of the republic in this country. It tries to submit political power over the justice system, the judges, and this distances justice from the citizenry, from a citizenry that wants to be equal before a judge whether they are the president or the poorest person in Argentina. If this becomes law it will make it more difficult for a citizen to be able to have access to equality in terms of justice," Narvaez said.
    The measures were passed by the Senate last week, but the upper chamber will have to hear the proposals again if it is approved in the House due to changes made by a justice and constitutional commission on Tuesday (April 23).
    Fernandez's critics also argue her moves to shake up the country's judicial system is in response to controversial rulings that have stifled a broadcast reform law that would force media conglomerate Grupo Clarin to sell off lucrative operating license.
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