The Algerian Council of the Judiciary has announced that it will freeze a recent judicial movement that had been implemented by the Minister of Justice. This decision was made during a meeting of the Council's national bureau. The move comes after a general strike was called by the National Union of Magistrates, which significantly disrupted judicial activity across the country.
The strike, which began on the day following the Council's announcement, was widely observed according to the union. This prompted a reaction from the Council of the Judiciary, which has put the judicial movement on hold. The union has declared that it will remain in session until new proposals for judicial movements are examined, in accordance with the law.
Prior to the strike, the Ministry of Justice had warned that any form of strike or incitement to strike by magistrates was prohibited and considered abandonment of post. Despite this warning, magistrates proceeded with the strike action. The Ministry emphasized that the status of the judiciary prohibits magistrates from taking individual or collective actions that could halt or impede the functioning of justice.
The judicial movement in question had been decided upon by the Council of the Judiciary after a series of meetings involving members of the Council's permanent bureau. These meetings had been informed about the content of the movement and other agenda items, which were adopted unanimously. The Ministry of Justice noted that the Council is predominantly composed of elected magistrates.
The National Union of Magistrates had supported the primary criterion used for the judicial movement, which was based on an antiquity of five years in the same jurisdiction. This was discussed during a meeting held on September 18, 2019, in the presence of the Minister of Justice. However, the law does not require the union's presence in preparatory work for judicial movements.
The Ministry of Justice also pointed out that procedures for legal recourse are available to any magistrate who feels disadvantaged, in accordance with Article 26 of the judiciary statute. For other demands, particularly those of a material nature, a working group was established, which has completed drafting a regulatory text to address these issues.
The Ministry addressed claims of a lack of dialogue, stating that members of the National Union of Magistrates had been received several times at the ministry and had held meetings, the most recent being with the Minister of Justice in September 2019.
Key points
- The Algerian Council of the Judiciary has frozen a judicial movement amid a nationwide strike by judges.
- The strike was called by the National Union of Magistrates over various demands.
- The Ministry of Justice had previously warned against strike actions by magistrates.
