Opposition parties are proposing to reallocate funds initially intended for a future constitutional court to address the pressing issue of prison cell shortages. The proposal involves transferring funds from the Ministry of the Interior’s budget to the Ministry of Justice and Security.

Specifically, they aim to bring forward half of the 50 million euros allocated annually between 2028 and 2030 for the constitutional court, making 25 million euros available each year from 2025 to 2027 for the prison system. This reallocation seeks to prevent the early release of detainees, a measure that could be implemented as early as mid-July.

The opposition highlights the critical state of prisons, with forecasts predicting a cell shortage exceeding 800 by 2030. They criticize the current cabinet for not allocating funds to the prison system in the Spring Memorandum, even requiring the Custodial Institutions Agency to reduce its budget. They believe that security is being mishandled and accuse the ruling parties of unwillingness to invest in essential services.

The proposal has sparked debate, with concerns raised about the feasibility of establishing a constitutional court given the current political climate and the need for a constitutional amendment. Some suggest alternative solutions to the prison system’s problems, such as recruiting more staff, reopening closed facilities, and implementing smarter sentencing practices like community service and electronic detention.