Labour torpedoes judicial reform bid

A long-sought agreement with the judiciary which is meant to enter into force tomorrow is in the balance as the Labour Opposition signalled its disagreement at the eleventh hour. Labour’s parliamentary group decided it would back a proposal to increase the retirement age of sitting judges and magistrates from 65 to 68 years but will oppose the other parts of the package, which includes a €12,000 increase in allowances over the next three years and a new retirement pension system. The decision follows a meeting of its parliamentary group last week in which the draft agreement between the Government and the judiciary was discussed. “We think the current economic scenario does not permit an increase in the salaries and allowances for the judiciary, even though they might deserve one,” Labour’s justice spokesman Jose Herrera told The Sunday Times. “We opposed an increase in the salaries of MPs and ministers over the past years for the same reason and we will be consistent even with regards to the judiciary,” he said. Insisting this was the official collective position of Labour’s parliamentary group, Dr Herrera said his party would, however, support the proposal in Parliament to raise...