[Nomination of Senior Counsel] A Reform Born from a Crisis of Trust

During his speech at the National Assembly on Friday, October 10, 2025, the Prime Minister strongly defended the Senior Counsel and Senior Attorney Bill, asserting that the reform aims to "restore clarity and trust" following controversies surrounding the Senior Counsel appointments made earlier this year.

He noted that the current stalemate originated from the President's decision to exclude two names from the 33 proposed by the judiciary — a decision made, according to him, to protect "the country's reputation" while an investigation was underway regarding the two individuals involved.

In response to accusations of "politicization" and threats to judicial independence, the head of government dismissed any attempts to "distort the reality." He emphasized that the appointment of Senior Counsel has never been an exclusive prerogative of the judiciary but rather "the result of collaboration between the judiciary and the executive."

The bill notably aims to increase the representation of the judiciary within the recommendation panel, chaired by the Chief Justice, while maintaining the participation of the Attorney General and representatives from the legal profession. "This reform replaces ambiguity with transparency," he reiterated, emphasizing that it "preserves the predominant voice of the judiciary at the recommendation stage."

Finally, the Prime Minister assured that this initiative is part of a broader modernization of the judicial system, including investments in infrastructure, technology, and legal aid. "This is not a matter of power, but of institutional responsibility," he stated, urging lawmakers to pass the bill to "end the confusion" and "reinforce trust in our institutions."