Prochazka Gives Up Seat in Parliament and Siet Party Membership
Bratislava, October 31 (TASR) – Radoslav Prochazka is giving up his MP’s seat and his membership of the party he founded and once led – Siet (Network) – as of Monday, TASR learnt from Siet spokesperson Karmen Nemetova on the same day.
“I’ve decided to return to practising the law fully, regardless of how the selection proceedings at the EU Court of Justice turn out for me. Therefore, as of October 31, I’m relinquishing my seat in Parliament as well as my membership of the political party I founded,” wrote Prochazka in a statement. He also used the occasion to thank the people of Slovakia for all their votes and his former colleagues for their aid and support.
Party chair Roman Brecely said that he respects Prochazka’s decision. “I thank Rado for his cooperation and wish him all the best in both his private as well as professional endeavours,” he said. Siet views this moment as an opportunity to start a new chapter in its history. It intends to continue supporting the programme with which it successfully reached out to its voters in the March 2016 election. “Siet will support a constructive discussion and effective solutions as a party that promotes the ideas of a strong society and simple state,” added the party spokesperson.
Prochazka was nominated to the post of an additional judge of the EU General Court (EUGC) by the Judicial Council on September 19. This was approved by the Cabinet on September 28. He now has to face a hearing by an advisory committee of the CJEU.
The EUGC is the first-instance body of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU). It was set up in 1998 to provide two-stage judicial supervision over certain areas and in order to relieve the Strasbourg-based CJEU itself. With at least one judge from each EU-member state, EUGC judges are appointed by common accord of the governments of EU members. Their term of office is six years and is renewable. The judges appoint their president from among their own ranks for a period of three years.
