OR independence of justice It is a foundation stone for the functioning of democracy and to safeguard citizens’ rights. However attacks on judicial officers On the part of politicians, who undermine the prestige of the institution. As Yiannis Papadimitriou pointed out, “In the open sea and in court you are at the mercy of God”recalling that uncertainty towards justice and distrust are not unprecedented phenomena.

The political pressure and example of the European Court of Justice

The confusion and undermining of justice are reinforced when some politicians exploit the mistrust of society to convey their own responsibility to judges. The Court of European Union (WEU) It is an indicative example. The reluctance of compliance with his decisions was a key reason for Brexit, and in the European Union itself, the voices that claim to be rising that the voices claim to be “The judges rule and not the politicians”.

The events, however, show that judges apply laws that are established by the politicians themselves. The decisions of the WEU, such as the Costa/Enel Case which determined the superiority of Community law against the National or the Frankovich case, which adopted the right to compensate citizens for non -implementation of a Community directive, determined the freedoms of the modern European citizen.

Justice as a guardian of the Republic

Her role Justice It turns out even more important in periods of political uncertainty and social tension. An indication is the recent incident in Germany, where after a court ruling that stopped mass expulsions of immigrants, a minister said that ‘This is an isolated decision’, implying that the deportations will continue. At the same time, there are public controversy even for the appropriateness of constitutionalists proposed for supreme judicial posts, criteria that usually escape the institutional framework.

The systematic aggressive attitude towards judges – the so -called ‘Bashing’ – He has to stop here. Directly threatens the principle of discrimination of powers and erodes the foundations of democratic legitimacy. Political power exemplifies society: When politicians underestimate justice, an environment of vulgar behavior is cultivated and messages of hatred are dispersed against judges who do their work.

The shielding of justice and the defense of its independence is the responsibility of all of us. Only in this way is the essence of democracy alive.