MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Federal court strikes major setback for Cristina Fernandez judicial reform

Federal Judge Maria Servini de Cubría ruled the bill unconstitutional

Argentine Federal Judge María Servini de Cubría with competence over electoral affairs ruled that the Counsel of Magistrates reform law recently passed by Congress is unconstitutional. Her decision comes hours away from the deadline to apply for electoral alliances.

The ruling is a major setback for the government of President Cristina Fernandez that had the bill drafted and approved by Congress in record time.

Servini de Cubría ruled on articles 2, 4, 18 and 30 of the Magistrates Counsel Bill 26.855 and on Decree 577/13 calling for elections of counsellors, lawyers, judges and academics in the coming August primary which demands they are open, simultaneous and mandatory.

The ruling thus suspends the election of the new members of the counsel as they will not be able to sign up for the lists. The official notification will be sent on Wednesday.

Servini de Cubría ruled in favour of a complaint filed by the head of the Argentine College of Attorneys Jorge Rizzo and the attorney for the Christian Democratic Party Carlos Lionel Traboulsi.

Both official and opposition parties were waiting for the ruling, which will now probably go straight to the Supreme Court via the Per Saltum legal resort. The government can also appeal to the Electoral Chamber and the Federal Contentious Chamber to decide on the over a dozen demands standing.