Latest news with #ruleoflaw
The Guardian
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Zelenskyy pledges new bill on anti-corruption agencies' independence as protests continue
Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised a new bill to strengthen the rule of law in Ukraine on Wednesday, in an apparent attempt to assuage popular anger at his decision to weaken the powers of two independent anti-corruption agencies. Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Kyiv for a second day, while European leaders expressed concern at the Ukrainian president's contentious decision. The demonstrators gathered outside the presidential office, shouting anti-government slogans. They want him to scrap a controversial law that effectively places the agencies under government control. In a video address, Zelenskyy sought to deflect criticism by promising a new presidential bill. It would guarantee the independence of anti-corruption institutions and at the same time ensure there was 'no Russian influence', he said. 'Of course, everyone has heard what people are saying these days – on social media, to each other, on the streets. It's not falling on deaf ears,' he added. But the apparent concession left protesters unimpressed. They said Zelenskyy has not agreed to scrap the controversial aspects of Tuesday's bill and pointed out that the Verkhovna Rada – Ukraine's parliament, which approved the changes – has gone on holiday for the summer recess. Olha Ivanova, who has worked in the anti-corruption sector, said the government was calculating that the protests would fizzle out. She predicted they would continue. 'Civil society is huge in Ukraine. From time to time we have to remind the people in power that we elect them,' she said. Ivanova held up a placard in English and Ukrainian that read: 'Have you lost your mind?' She said she hoped Zelenskyy would reverse his decision, adding: 'He's not a dictator. Nobody would say this. He's a president in a very difficult political context during a war.' Ukraine's European backers including Germany, France and Sweden have echoed concerns about the new legislation, which the Ukrainian president approved on Tuesday night. They warned it could hamper Kyiv's attempt to join the EU and hinder the fight against corruption. The bill gives sweeping powers to the prosecutor general's office. It can now decide which cases the two independent agencies – the national anti-corruption bureau and the specialised anti-corruption prosecutor's office – are allowed to pursue. The two institutions have been key to fighting high-level corruption and protecting billions in international aid and investment. Critics say they have been stripped of their autonomy, making them indistinguishable from ordinary law enforcement bodies. Zelenskyy says the shake-up was needed to clean Ukraine's 'anti-corruption infrastructure' of alleged Russian connections. On Wednesday, he convened a meeting with the heads of law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies at his presidential office in Kyiv. Olena Kurnytska, a 21-year-old student at York University, took part in Wednesday's protest for the first time. She waved a placard saying 'I would like to see the future, not the flashbacks'. She said: 'We feel like its our civic duty to be here. It's an easy situation to exploit. A wartime government can twist democracy more easily.' Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, was one of several prominent European figures who voiced unhappiness at the legislative amendments. She had asked Zelenskyy for explanations and had conveyed to him her strong concerns, her spokesperson said. They added: 'The respect for the rule of law and the fight against corruption are core elements of the European Union. As a candidate country, Ukraine is expected to uphold these standards fully. There cannot be a compromise.' In a pointed message to Kyiv, the EU's defence commissioner, Andrius Kubilius, said trust during wartime was 'easy to lose with one significant mistake by the leadership … Transparency and open European dialogue is the only way to repair [it].' Sign up to Headlines Europe A digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day after newsletter promotion France's European minister, Benjamin Haddad, said there was still time for Ukraine to reverse its decision. 'It is not too late to go back on this,' he told France Inter radio. 'We will be extremely vigilant on the subject.' The popular backlash against the bill is turning into the biggest domestic political crisis of Zelenskyy's premiership. The crowd on Wednesday was larger than the night before. The street protests, which took place in several cities, were the first since Vladimir Putin's 2022 full-scale invasion. Civil-society leaders have accused the presidential administration of violating an informal contract with society. They say the agreement with government – that it was inappropriate to criticise official abuses because of the war with Russia – is definitively over. About 3,000 demonstrators gathered directly outside Zelenskyy's administration complex on Wednesday evening, shouting slogans beneath his window. They included 'shame', 'we are the power', and 'veto the law'. Posting earlier on Telegram, Zelenskyy said Ukrainians faced a 'common enemy' in the shape of 'Russian occupiers'. Of public criticism, he said: 'We all hear what society says. We see what people expect from state institutions to ensure justice and the efficiency of each institution.' Yuriy Sak, a former adviser to Ukraine's defence ministry, said Ukrainians had a strong historical tradition of protesting against anything that resembled authoritarianism or dictatorship, in Soviet times and today. 'It's in our DNA. We have a very good sense for where the red line is, and for when people cross this line. If anyone tries to tighten their grip on power people pour into the streets,' he said, citing the uprisings in 2004 and 2014 against perceived government misrule. Sak likened the collective mood to the air raid alerts that sound most evenings, when Kyiv and other cities came under Russian missile attack. 'Whenever we see authoritarianism on the move, a silent siren goes off in Ukrainian heads,' he suggested.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
900 DOJ attorneys urge Senate to reject Bove nomination
More than 900 former Justice Department attorneys are urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject the nomination of Emil Bove for a lifetime judicial appointment. Bove, who previously served on President Trump's criminal defense team, is now in the No. 3 role at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and has been nominated for a judgeship on the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. The extraordinary outpouring came from attorneys from the Kennedy administration to the current Trump administration who pinpointed Bove as a key figure behind numerous firings and policy shifts, calling him a 'leader in this assault' on the Justice Department. 'Emil Bove has been an architect and enforcer of many of the attacks on DOJ and its employees,' said Stacey Young, executive director and founder of Justice Connection, which organized the letter. 'His nomination to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals sent shockwaves across DOJ's workforce, and should alarm all Americans concerned about the Department's future and the survival of the rule of law.' The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to consider Bove's nomination Thursday, as well as that of Fox News host Jeanine Pirro to serve as a U.S. attorney. The letter runs through a string of recent controversies in which Bove has played a role. He was central in pushing the dismissal of the bribery charges brought against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, prompting a wave of resignations from members of the department's Public Integrity Section. He was behind the terminations of prosecutors who worked on Jan. 6, 2021, cases and a request to turn over a list of FBI agents who investigated riot cases. It also focuses on recent allegations from a DOJ whistleblower who said Bove told top department officials they may need to consider saying 'f‑‑‑ you' to judges who might block the administration's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to send migrants to a Salvadoran prison. Bove has said he couldn't recall whether he used the expletive, but he told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing that he 'certainly conveyed the importance of the upcoming operation.' 'Each one of the undersigned would testify, under oath, that we have never — and would never — tell a Justice Department attorney to consider defying a court order. Moreover, the Justice Department's later defiance of judicial mandates in the cases where Mr. Bove previewed doing so further suggests that disregarding court orders was Mr. Bove's intent all along,' the letter states. Bove's nomination looks poised to proceed, as Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.), the only Republican on the panel to previously oppose a Trump nominee, has said he would follow the staff recommendation. 'We ask that before the Judiciary Committee votes on this nomination, you rigorously examine the actions Mr. Bove has taken at DOJ and the effects they've had on the Department's integrity, employees, and mission-critical work,' the attorneys wrote. 'It is intolerable to us that anyone who disgraces the Justice Department would be promoted to one of the highest courts in the land, as it should be intolerable to anyone committed to maintaining our ordered system of justice.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Bar welcomes new CJ, calls for stronger judiciary
Malaysian Bar president Ezri Abdul Wahab said Chief Justice Wan Ahmad Farid Ahmad Salleh's past actions demonstrate his understanding of the judiciary's role. PETALING JAYA : The Malaysian Bar and a DAP MP have welcomed the appointment of Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as the new chief justice, expressing hope that he will uphold judicial independence. Malaysian Bar president Ezri Abdul Wahab said Wan Ahmad Farid's past actions demonstrated his understanding of the judiciary's role, recalling his decision to recuse himself in 2022 from a high-profile case involving former prime minister Najib Razak. 'He remarked that the 'public perception of the independence of the judiciary should not be put in doubt' and that it is not a 'matter of trial and error'. 'He reminded all that an 'independent judiciary is a precious gift to any society'. Once it is lost, anarchy reigns. 'These statements demonstrate a profound understanding of the judiciary's sacred role in upholding the rule of law,' said Ezri. Former chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat retired on July 1, while former Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim retired on July 3. Ezri congratulated Abu Bakar Jais on his appointment as Court of Appeal president and Azizah Nawawi as chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak. 'We hope that under the stewardship of these new judicial office-bearers, the judiciary will continue to uphold the highest standards of independence, integrity and service to the nation,' he said. However, Ezri added that many 'current critical vacancies remain unfilled across the Federal Court, the Court of Appeal and High Courts'. 'We remain hopeful these remaining vacancies will be filled promptly and transparently, in a manner that reinforces public confidence in the judiciary and strengthens the administration of justice,' he said. Separately, MP Syahredzan Johan urged Wan Ahmad Farid to uphold judicial independence. Noting his previous involvement in politics and his recusal from past cases involving potential conflicts of interest, Syahredzan said Malaysians would hold the new chief justice to his previous principles. 'They will expect the new chief justice to continue recusing himself from hearing cases that may create negative perceptions about the integrity of the judiciary. 'The people have high hopes that Wan Ahmad Farid will continue Tengku Maimun's legacy in ensuring that the judiciary remains free from external interference,' he said.
Malay Mail
7 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Malaysian Bar hails Wan Ahmad Farid's appointment as Chief Justice, cites understanding of judicial independence in Laidlaw recusal
KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — The Malaysian Bar has today lauded the appointment of Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as Chief Justice, citing his 2022 decision to recuse himself from a high-profile case involving UK King's Counsel Jonathan Laidlaw. In a statement, it said this shows that Wan Ahmad Farid had shown a profound understanding of judicial independence — especial in his remark then, which highlighted the importance of public confidence in the Judiciary and its role in upholding the rule of law. 'These statements demonstrate a profound understanding of the Judiciary's sacred role in upholding the rule of law,' its president Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab said. 'We hope that under the stewardship of these new judicial office bearers, the Judiciary will continue to uphold the highest standards of independence, integrity, and service to the nation, reaching greater heights.' In August 2023, the Federal Court refused to admit British lawyer Laidlaw as an advocate and solicitor to represent former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the SRC International Sdn Bhd criminal case. Wan Ahmad Farid had in June 2022 recused himself to avoid any unnecessary criticism against the judiciary, due to his past role as a politician and because a family member is a division leader in Najib's Umno party. The Malaysian Bar today also welcomed the appointments of Datuk Abu Bakar Jais as President of the Court of Appeal, and Justice Datuk Azizah Nawawi as Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak. 'We extend our congratulations and wish him every success in leading the Judiciary with distinction, courage, and unwavering commitment to justice,' it said, referring to Wan Ahmad Farid. The Bar said the new appointments were much welcomed following months of uncertainty and speculation, and expressed confidence that the Judiciary, under its new leadership, could reach greater heights. However, the Bar also raised concern over continuing vacancies at the Federal Court, Court of Appeal and High Court levels. 'While these appointments are much welcomed after months of uncertainty, anticipation, and avoidable speculation, many critical vacancies — current and anticipated — remain unfilled across the Federal Court, the Court of Appeal, and the High Court. 'We remain hopeful that these remaining vacancies will be filled promptly and transparently, in a manner that reinforces public confidence in the Judiciary and strengthens the administration of justice,' it said.
Malay Mail
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Selangor Sultan: Judicial appointments must follow the law
SHAH ALAM, July 17 — The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has emphasised that the appointment of senior judges to the superior courts must comply with all legal provisions, particularly under Article 122B of the Federal Constitution. This was among the matters Sultan Sharafuddin emphasised while chairing the 269th Meeting of the Conference of Rulers yesterday. The meeting had discussed, among other things, appointments for the Chief Justice, President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, as well as other judges of the superior courts. In this regard, Sultan Sharafuddin fully supports the statement issued by Istana Negara on July 10 regarding the power of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to appoint the Chief Justice, President of the Court of Appeal and other key positions in the judiciary, upon the advice of the Prime Minister and after consultation with the Conference of Rulers. 'The process provided for under the Federal Constitution must be carried out transparently and carefully, in order to uphold the rule of law and support the principles of justice that form the core of governance in this country. 'In this connection, all parties are urged to refrain from making any speculation or unfounded accusations without complete and verified facts,' His Royal Highness said in a statement today. Sultan Sharafuddin also expressed gratitude that the meeting was conducted smoothly and successfully. — Bernama
