Parliament debates candidate for President of the Supreme Court

Lawmakers in parliament on Thursday discussed the proposed nomination of Zlata Đurđević as President of the Supreme Court put forth by President Zoran Milanović.

As predicted, political groups stuck to their earlier views, with the ruling HDZ confirming that they would not vote for Đurđević because she had ignored the normal legal procedure set out for candidates, while and the opposition SDP claimed that the ruling majority did not want her because she was independent.

Former Justice Minister Dražen Bošnjaković of the HDZ underscored that Đurđević had failed to participate in the initial public call for the position, a failure that he said was against the law and makes her candidacy null and void.

Anyone aspiring to the position of Supreme Court President cannot ignore the law and agree to be nominated by the president of the republic without having participated in a public call and having written a program, he said.

Bošnjaković went on to say that the HDZ wants to see a qualified and competent person who commands respect at the helm of the Supreme Court.

SDP leader Peđa Grbin said that Đurđević does not suit the ruling coalition because she is not part of the judicial elite and because the ruling coalition do not want the situation in the judiciary to improve.

"Đurđević is independent. She won't have me, the president, or the prime minister, telling her what to do and influence her decisions. But that's exactly the kind of person I want to the the President of the Supreme Court. That's the main reason why the ruling majority refuse to back her. Prove me wrong," said Grbin.

Grbin then praised the candidate as a professional, qualified and competent person.

Nikola Grmoja from the Most party said he would not support a candidate presented by the HDZ or SDP, adding that corruption could only be eliminated through a change in collective mentality.

Parliament is set to vote on the candidacy of Zlata Đurđević on Friday.