Constitutional Council wants to increase the rights and benefits of its judges

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Constitutional Council wants to increase the rights and benefits of its judges

2:02 CAT | 07 Dec 2018

File photo: O País

While the country was waiting for the results of the municipal elections, the president of the Constitutional Council on October 16 submitted a proposal for the revision of Law no. 06/2006 of August 2. The proposal aims to update the organic law of the Constitutional Council in order to take into account the new powers attributed to the body as a result of the constitutional changes.

These are the powers to deliberate on the dismissal of the governor of the province and of the district administrator and also on the dissolution of the provincial, district and municipal assemblies.

However, the matter does not stop there. The Constitutional Council also proposes an addition and updating of articles that address the rights and privileges of the judges. Thus, Article 18 now includes more rights and benefits for judges, namely:

– Proper residence, duly furnished, provided by the state or, failing that, income subsidy for home;

– Car for personal usage (besides the protocol vehicle)

– Life and disability insurance;

– Holiday allowance corresponding to basic salary;

– Installation allowance at the start of the term of office;

– Subsidy of exclusivity and risk;

– Compensation allowance when living in own home.

Where previously only medical, the free assistance will now include the medication for, in addition to the advisory judge and his spouse, minor children and other dependents under the judge’s care.

The same will happen with the right to a diplomatic passport which, in addition to benefiting the judge and his spouse, will now include minor and incapable children.

The proposal refers to a proper diploma to fix monthly remuneration, which includes the base salary, allowances and allowances appropriate to the dignity and exclusivity in the exercise of the function of the Constitutional Council judge.

Also on remuneration, the document proposes that on the date on which he completes two-and-a-half years, seven, and 12 years of effective service, the counsellor receives a special salary increase corresponding to 20 percent of gross salary. In addition to this special salary increase scheme, the advisory judges of the Constitutional Council are entitled to the increases fixed for the civil service.

And because the role of a magistrate in the institution is not life-long, the Constitutional Council proposal attempts to accommodate the situation of the judges after the termination of their functions.

Article 22 of the proposed revision provides that the Constitutional Council judge who has performed at least one term of office and whose termination is not the result of disciplinary or criminal processes, has safeguarded the following rights and perks:

– Full salary, updated, including special increases, provided the judge has made discounts for retirement pension:

– Up-to-date subsidies;

– Own identification card and maintenance of protocol-specific treatment of the function;

– Car for personal use, every five years, at the expense of the state

The proposal also establishes a survivor’s pension corresponding to 100% of the basic salary, to which the spouse and the surviving heirs are entitled.

On the same date that it was submitted to the Assembly of the Republic, the proposal to revise the Organic Law of the Constitutional Council was sent for consideration to the committees on Constitutional Affairs, Human Rights and Legality and the Public Administration and Local Government Committee.

By Emídio Beúla

Source: O País