Minister Judit Varga said that the government has decided not to introduce an organizationally separated administrative court system, but the new draft will make administrative justice faster and more predictable.
The minister recalled that the government had decided in the spring to postpone the establishment of an organizationally separated administrative court system for an indefinite period. “After a serious professional debate, the government believes that the court should be protected from unnecessary disputes and therefore would maintain a unified court system and would not establish an independent administrative court organization,” Varga said.
“The draft law under preparation will provide a clear framework for administrative litigation, speed up the closure of appeals, and make legal practice more predictable,” she emphasized, adding that the draft will be submitted to Parliament during its autumn session.
The minister pointed out that the government's ideas on administrative justice are in line with European and international standards and were approved by the Venice Commission back in the spring; it has passed all legal tests, so the international debate played no role in the government's decision.
The bill would provide a forum for remedies, which could better serve the interests of citizens, instead of the current wide-ranging system of administrative redress. The draft provides a clearer and more unequivocal framework and also unifies judicial practice, she added.
In more detail, the number of cases in which there will be a single-stage administrative procedure will be further broadened. Thus, it will be possible to go to court directly against a contentious administrative decision. In this way, there will be a two-level system of administrative judicial review with the tribunals and, in given cases, the Curia.