TFL Vsebine / Pravni letopis

Pravna država temelji na dveh nepogrešljivih elementih: na samem obstoju pisanega prava, kar ustreza pojmu pravne varnosti, in na zaupanju v to (obstoječe) pravo, kar pomeni zaupanje, da bo obstoječi zakon, kakršen je v času njegove uporabe, imel posledice in učinke, kot jih tak zakon vnaprej določa. Zato morebitne poznejše spremembe zakona (ali nov zakon) ne smejo imeti nobenega učinka na prej storjena pravna ravnanja po prejšnjem zakonu. Drugače bi to ustvarilo pravo (nedopustno) retroaktivno učinkovanje zakona. Pač pa imajo zakoni pogosto lahko učinek samo neprave (navidezne) retroaktivnosti, brez pravnega učinka za nazaj. To je npr. pogosto pri zakonih, ki se nanašajo na delovno pravo, pravo o zaposlitvi ali družinskih razmerjih ipd. To ni pravo retroaktivno učinkovanje zakona. Taki zakoni imajo samo ex nunc učinek za naprej, tj. od sedaj naprej. Ne gre za kršitev nedopustne retroaktivnosti. Dejansko pa je pogosto težavno jasno razlikovati med primeri prave (resnične) in primeri samo neprave (navidezne) retroaktivnosti. Samo če je zakonodajalec pri tem dovolj natančen, je zagotovljen tudi drugi od omenjenih elementov oziroma načel, ki ju vedno zahteva pravna država.

The state with the rule of law is based on two basic elements: the very existence of written law, which equates with legal certainty, and on the confidence in this (existing) law, i.e. the confidence in existing law as it is at the time when it is applied to have the consequences and effects as provided by it in advance. Therefore, possible later changes of the law (or a new law) may have no effect on previous legal actions under the previous law. Otherwise, this would bring about real (inadmissible) retroactive effect of law. Remarkably, many laws often may only have the effect of false (seeming) retroactivity, without true retroactive effect. Such for instance is often the case when it comes to laws, referring to labour law, employment law or family law, etc. In such cases, no true retroactive effect of law is involved. Such laws only have the so called ex nunc effect in the future, »from now on«. No violation of inadmissible retroactivity is involved. In fact, it is often difficult to distinguish clearly between the cases of real (true) and cases of but false (seeming) retroactivity. Only if the legislator is sufficiently meticulous abot this, also the former element or principle of both principles mentioned above, which a state of law duly requires, is ensured.

Inadmissible Retroactivity of Laws