All articles tagged with #judiciary reform
Mexico held its first judicial elections with only 13% voter turnout amid confusion and disillusionment, raising concerns about legitimacy and influence of criminal groups, but officials and some voters see it as a step towards democratic reform and justice system overhaul.
The Israeli Supreme Court has ruled against legislative control over the judiciary, a move that halts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right government's efforts to weaken the courts amidst a cultural war over Israel's identity. This decision comes during a time of war with Gaza, which has temporarily united the country. Critics of Netanyahu view the ruling as a preservation of Israel's democratic character, while his supporters argue it undermines wartime unity. The ruling has broader implications for Israel's future identity and its relationship with the West, as well as the ongoing conflict with Palestine.
A coalition of Bulgarian parties has agreed to form a grand coalition government with two rotating prime ministers, tasked with implementing constitutional reforms and tackling corruption, particularly in the judiciary. The coalition will also reintroduce electronic voting to tackle electoral fraud. The agreement is intended to end years of political instability in Bulgaria, which has held five elections in the past two years. The GERB party, whose leader served as prime minister from 2009 to 2021, won the latest election, but neither party had a clear parliamentary majority, paving the way for difficult coalition talks.
The White House has downplayed the public disagreement between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the latter's plans to overhaul Israel's judiciary. Biden criticised the proposal, which has sparked nationwide protests, and said he would not invite Netanyahu to the White House in the near term. Netanyahu responded by saying Israel makes its own decisions and called the US-Israel alliance "unbreakable". Despite the disagreement, the White House stressed that Biden and Netanyahu are "friends" and that the US remains committed to Israel's security and democracy.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a judicial reform framework proposed by President Isaac Herzog, insisting that Israel is and "will remain a liberal democracy." Netanyahu argued that the judicial branch has become too powerful in Israel and that the proposed plan would bring balance to the branches of government. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Netanyahu to consider a compromise deal on the plan to overhaul the judiciary and expressed concern over rising violence in the West Bank. Netanyahu also met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who expressed concern over the Israeli government's judicial overhaul plans.