What’s New: Week of July 13

 — Marieta Safta, Professor Phd, Titu Maiorescu University, Bucharest, Romania

In this weekly feature, I-CONnect publishes a curated reading list of developments in public law. “Developments” may include a selection of links to news, high court decisions, new or recent scholarly books and articles, and blog posts from around the public law blogosphere.

To submit relevant developments for our weekly feature on “What’s New in Public Law,” please email iconnecteditors@gmail.com.

Developments in Constitutional Courts

1. The Constitutional Court of Kazakhstan ruled on 7 July 2026 clarifying the application of the eligibility provisions under the country’s new Constitution. Responding to a request submitted by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Court held that terms served under the 1995 Constitution are not taken into account under the new constitutional framework. Accordingly, the incumbent President remains eligible to seek election under the new Constitution.
2. The Constitutional Court of Armenia upheld the results of the 7 June 2026 parliamentary elections in a decision announced on 4 July 2026. Rejecting applications filed by opposition parties seeking to invalidate the vote, the Court confirmed the Central Electoral Commission’s decision certifying the election results.
3. The Court of Justice of the European Union held on 2 July 2026 in Case C-67/25, Traugott Ickeroth, that the EU prohibition on broadcasting content from the Russian channel Russia Today applies not only to television broadcasting but also to websites making such content freely accessible to the public. The Court clarified that the application of the prohibition does not depend on whether the activity is carried out for profit or on the extent or duration of the broadcasting, thereby confirming the broad scope of the restrictive measures adopted by the European Union against Russia
4. The European Court of Human Rights delivered its judgment in Al Nashiri v. Lithuania, finding that Lithuania had failed to comply with its procedural obligations under Article 3 of the Convention by not conducting an effective investigation into the applicant’s allegations concerning his secret detention and ill-treatment in the context of the CIA rendition programme. The Court concluded that the domestic investigation had not satisfied the requirements of effectiveness under the Convention and reiterated the obligation of States to carry out prompt, independent and thorough investigations into credible allegations of torture and secret detention.
5. The Constitutional Court of Moldova delivered a landmark judgment on 7 July 2026 clarifying the constitutional limits of the autonomous status of Gagauzia within the framework of the unitary state. The Court declared unconstitutional provisions of the Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia, the Electoral Code, and the Law on Police Activity and Police Status that empowered the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia to approve the composition of the Central Electoral Council of Gagauzia, regulate the organisation of regional elections, and participate in the appointment of senior police officials. Reaffirming the constitutional principles of the unitary state and local autonomy, the Court held that Article 111 of the Constitution does not establish a separate constitutional order and that Gagauzia’s autonomy may be exercised only within the competences assigned by Parliament, without encroaching upon powers constitutionally reserved to national authorities, including the electoral system and public security.

In the News

1. The Israeli government announced on 6 July 2026 that it would challenge a recent Supreme Court ruling concerning the functioning of the Second Authority for Television and Radio, arguing that the Court had exceeded its authority. The announcement has reignited the long-running institutional dispute over the role of judicial review and the balance of powers in Israel, prompting criticism from opposition leaders and legal officials, who warned of the constitutional implications of refusing to comply with judicial decisions.
2. Montenegro’s governing majority and opposition reached a landmark agreement on constitutional and judicial reforms aimed at advancing the country’s EU accession process. The package includes amendments to strengthen judicial independence, facilitate the appointment of Constitutional Court judges, and advance electoral reforms through cross-party consensus. The agreement, welcomed by the European Union, is widely seen as an important step towards restoring institutional stability and reinforcing the rule of law.
3. Malaysia’s Cabinet has approved constitutional amendments requiring parliamentary scrutiny of candidates for the office of Public Prosecutor before their appointment. The reform is part of a broader institutional package designed to separate the constitutional functions of the Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor, strengthen prosecutorial independence, and enhance parliamentary oversight over key constitutional offices. The proposed amendments will now proceed through the legislative process.
4. Debate over Fiji’s ongoing constitutional review process has intensified following submissions to the Constitutional Review Commission questioning its democratic legitimacy and institutional mandate. Critics argue that any comprehensive constitutional reform should be preceded by parliamentary authorization and conducted within a clear legislative framework, while the review process continues to receive proposals on electoral reform, judicial independence, citizenship, and institutional accountability.
5. Colombia’s presidential transition has entered a period of acute institutional tension after President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella suspended the formal transition process, accusing outgoing President Gustavo Petro of attempting to obstruct the transfer of power by refusing to recognize the election results. Petro has reiterated allegations of electoral fraud, while international observers have affirmed the integrity of the election. The dispute has raised concerns over constitutional continuity, the peaceful transfer of power, and respect for democratic institutions ahead of the presidential inauguration on 7 August.

New Scholarship

1. Berihun Adugna Gebeye, “Jurisdemocracy: An Approach to Constitutionalism in the Postcolony” International Journal of Constitutional Law (2026). The article introduces the concept of “jurisdemocracy” as a model positioned between legal and political constitutionalism. The author argues that jurisdemocracy better encapsulates the phenomenological reality of written constitutions and provides more effective normative and institutional resources than either legal or political constitutionalism for their implementation.
2. Constitutional Studies, the multilingual open-access journal jointly published by the Comparative Constitutions Project and the International Association of Constitutional Law (IACL), has published its latest issue. The new volume brings together contributions from scholars across jurisdictions and disciplines addressing contemporary challenges in constitutional law and constitutional democracy. Consistent with the journal’s multilingual mission, the issue includes articles and reviews reflecting diverse constitutional traditions and methodological approaches, further strengthening its role as a global forum for comparative constitutional scholarship.
3. The Central European Journal of Comparative Law has published Volume 7, Issue 1 (2026), devoted to the protection of human and fundamental rights in Central and Eastern Europe. The issue brings together a comprehensive collection of country reports examining constitutional systems, constitutional courts and national human rights institutions across the region, including Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, Georgia, Croatia, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia and the Western Balkans. It also features comparative studies on the enforcement of European values before the Court of Justice of the European Union and the Europeanisation of private law.
4. Yaniv Roznai has published the Spanish edition of his new book, Los usos y abusos del poder de reforma constitucional: Entre el retroceso democrático y el populismo. The volume examines how constitutional amendment powers may be used to undermine constitutional democracy while formally complying with constitutional procedures. Drawing on comparative constitutional practice, the book explores the concept of abusive constitutional change and the role of constitutional courts in responding to democratic backsliding and populist constitutionalism.
5. Brian Christopher Jones and Edward Willis, “Unwritten Constitutionalism: A Vital Counterpoint,” Global Constitutionalism (2026).   The article articulates and defends unwritten constitutionalism as a version of constitutionalism found in only a few jurisdictions around the world, while arguing that it has much to offer to the theory and practice of constitutional studies. The authors uphold the distinction between written and unwritten constitutionalism, differentiate unwritten constitutionalism from other types of constitutionalism, and explore the lessons it may offer to written constitutional systems, particularly in light of the global turn towards more authoritarian forms of government.

 Calls for Papers and Announcements

1. Bogotá hosted the XII World Congress of Constitutional Law, organised by the International Association of Constitutional Law (IACL) and Universidad Externado de Colombia under the theme “Sustainable Constitutionalism: Answers for a Changing World.”  Bringing together more than 2,500 constitutional scholars, judges, practitioners and public officials from around the world, the Congress featured plenary sessions, hundreds of thematic workshops and innovative academic activities addressing contemporary challenges such as democracy, human rights, artificial intelligence, climate justice, judicial independence and constitutional resilience. Among the Congress’s innovations was the introduction of a deliberative   “Mini Public” on Democracy as a Human Right, inviting participants to collectively reflect on the normative foundations of a right to democracy through a structured deliberative process.
2. The Venice Commission co-organised in Tetouan, Morocco, the international symposium “Constitutional Courts: Bridges of Law and Dynamics of Dialogue”, hosted by Abdelmalek Essaâdi University. The event brought together constitutional judges, academics and legal experts from Europe and North Africa to discuss the evolving role of constitutional justice in safeguarding the rule of law, judicial independence and constitutional democracy. It also highlighted the Venice Commission’s updated Rule of Law Checklist, including the launch of its Arabic version and the presentation of the travelling exhibition The Rule of Law: A User Guide outside Europe for the first time.
3. Registration is now open for the 30th World Law Congress, which will take place in Tirana, Albania, on 3–5 May 2027. Organised by the World Jurist Association and the World Law Foundation, the Congress will bring together judges, academics, legal practitioners and policymakers from around the world to discuss contemporary challenges to the rule of law, democracy, human rights and international justice. Further information and registration are available on the Congress website.
4. The Journal of Legal and Political Education (JLPE) has launched a call for papers for its upcoming Article Collection, “Political Education as a Prerequisite for Safeguarding Democracy.” The submission deadline is 1 August 2026.
5. Professor Anna Młynarska-Sobaczewska has issued a call for submissions for an edited volume titled The Right to Housing—Between Utopia and Justiciable Entitlement, examining the right to housing from comparative, constitutional, and interdisciplinary perspectives. Abstracts (300–500 words) should be submitted by 30 September 2026, with full chapters due on 30 November 2026.

Elsewhere Online

1. Anja Bossow,“(De)Valuing Citizenship” Verfassungsblog (8 July 2026)
2. Aaditya Bajpai, “Not a Ministry of Truth: The State’s Positive Duty to Prevent Algorithmically Amplified Misinformation from Triggering Rights-Harming Violence,” UK Constitutional Law Association Blog (2 July 2026)
3. Lénárd Sándor, “Interim Measures as Constitutional Instruments in the Jurisprudence of the CJEU,” Central European Association for Comparative Law Blog (22 June 2026)