Claude Palmero, the former administrator of Crown Property in Monaco, is mounting a high-profile legal battle aimed at challenging judicial independence and pushing for constitutional reform in the Principality.
His case was presented before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, where his legal team sought to annul the appointment of four members of the court itself—a move they argue undermines the separation of powers and judicial impartiality.
Expelled from the Palace in June 2023, Palmero now contests a sovereign order issued by Prince Albert II on October 6, 2023, which retroactively appointed the four judges from August 8. His lawyers, Pierre-Olivier Sur and Jérémy Gutkes claimed this action breaches the rule of law enshrined in Monaco’s Constitution, which states that judicial power belongs to the Prince but delegates its exercise to independent courts.
The Prince’s legal counsel, however, rejected these accusations, denouncing them as “bad faith” and emphasizing that judicial independence is guaranteed despite the appointments being validated by the Prince. They argued that such claims distort facts and unfairly accuse Monaco’s legal institutions of bias.
The Supreme Court, led by its president Stéphane Braconnier, has deferred its decision until December 4. Regardless of the outcome, Palmero’s battle appears set to continue on a larger stage. His legal team has already taken the matter to the European Court of Human Rights, citing violations of the Monegasque Constitution and international standards of judicial independence.
By invoking Monaco’s adherence to European legal norms, Palmero seeks to challenge not only his dismissal but also the constitutional framework governing judicial appointments. This bold, “suicidal” move, as some observers have labelled it, (as reported by Monaco Matin) reflects his commitment to constitutional reform in the name of justice and transparency in the Principality.
