Judicial reform | Labour challenges government to take parliamentary vote
Labour shadow minister for Justice José Herrera is challenging government to take the announced judicial reform to a parliamentary vote.
Reacting to reports that government is pressing ahead with a judicial reform and has put the issue on Parliament's agenda, despite Labour's opposition to a €12,000 pay rise for judges and magistrates, Labour shadow minister for justice José Herrera has challenged government to go for a parliamentary vote.
"Increasing the judiciary's pay packet is a government's decision, so I challenge government to see if there is a simple majority to back it," Herrera told MaltaToday.
The Labour shadow minister stressed that it is was a mistake if individual members of the judiciary try to polarise the issue, "as seems to be happening right now".
Herrera said Labour would not polarise the issue. "But the judiciary is also there to answer to any criticism made on it," Herrera said.
"Labour is duty-bound to declare its political opinion on the matter, in the light of the economic situation," he said.
Parliament last week unanimously approved the first reading of the Judiciary Pensions Bill, which will is set to become a legislative Act, increasing the retirement age of sitting members by three years to 68.
Under the reform, judges and magistrates will be given a service pension, over and above the entitlement of a capped two-thirds pension, putting them at par with MPs.
Members of the Bench will receive a €12,000 increase in allowances over three years.