Gov’t dominates Council

The national government yesterday pulled its weight in the Magistrates Council, using its majority to appoint allies Mariano Fera and Manuel Urriza as president and vice-president of the court system’s disciplinary body, respectively.

“Not a single important position was left for the opposition. It is parliamentary tradition that second place is left for the second largest party, but this was the first time that the national government took both seats,” said Radical (UCR) Senator Mario Cimadevilla yesterday, although he added that “now (the government) will not be able to spread the blame if the council doesn’t work.”

The lawmaker referred to the elections as a punishment against the council after the scandal that erupted last year when the national government sought to appoint a candidate for the vacant court in which the case filed by the Clarín Group against the Broadcasting Law was being heard.

“Last year, the government suffered serious blows in the Council because the opposition, led by the Radicals, obstructed the appointment of judges in very sensitive courts,” said Cimedevilla.

Fera was previously head of the Magistrates Council in 2011. The body is entitled to appoint national judges and magistrates.

Speaking yesterday, Fera said that “we have to review the situation of magistrates who have had charges against them,” adding that he would also be involved in reviewing “internal Council issues.”

Herald with DyN