1,000 magistrates and court staff protest against underfunding of justice system
At the Justice Palace in Brussels, around 1,000 magistrates and other court staff have on Friday protested against the underfunding of the justice system. An official appeal addressed to the government was signed. The magistrates have been campaigning for several months to highlight the problems.
For months, there has been growing discontent within the Belgian magistrature, caused by the federal government's plans to reform the pension system for magistrates and court staff. These have been met with protests from almost all courts, tribunals, public prosecutors' offices and prosecutor-general's offices. They also denounce long-standing problems, such as the cutbacks that undermine working conditions within the judiciary and the failure to enforce court decisions.
The initiative for the new action, just before the start of the judicial recess, came from the court of cassation and the five appeals courts. The presidents of these courts, together with the procurators general at the court of cassation and the courts of appeal, and the federal prosecutor, signed an official appeal to the legislative and executive powers during a press conference. It is exceptional for the country's highest magistrates to hold a joint press conference.
The magistrates called on the government and parliament to “fully recognise the judiciary as a state power, in accordance with the status guaranteed to it by the constitution, by allocating it sufficient financial resources so that it can provide quality justice to those who need it.”
Further investments
“We ask to be received by the prime minister and the president of the chamber to engage in a respectful and constructive dialogue,” said Eric de Formanoir, first president of the court of cassation.
"We ask that resources be made available to enforce all judgments"
The magistrates also asked “that the social role of judges and prosecutors be fully recognised, that the necessary maintenance or renovation work be carried out in all courthouses, that all positions be fully filled, that further investment be made in digitisation, and that resources be made available to enforce all judgments”.
Manifestation of workers in the judiciary system at the Justice Palace in Brussels, in 2018 © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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