The Serbian Parliament passed bills amending the constitution and constitutional law without a debate on Wednesday following January’s referendum on the changes.

Speaker Ivica Dacic said that Serbia has taken a step forward in terms of rule of law and the independence of its judiciary to the benefit of the state and its citizens. He said that the amendments are a rare example of the authorities giving up part of their powers.

The amendments were introduced to change the way judges and prosecutors are appointed with the authorities claiming that the changes prevent political interference while critics say that they allow the regime to interfere in the election of judges and prosecutors. Under the amendments, judges and prosecutors will no longer be elected by parliament but by the High Judiciary Council and High Council of Prosecutors. They include the renaming of the High Court of Cassation into the Supreme Court.

Parliament also elected the chairman and members of the Republic Election Commission (RIK), keeping Vladimir Dimitrijevic on as commission chief, as well as 29 deputy public prosecutors and 16 judges.