Caretaker Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov stated on Monday that the judicial system should not remain under the leadership of an acting Prosecutor General who, in his view, operates contrary to law and morality. Speaking after Sunday’s elections, Yankulov noted that the results clearly indicated a victory for Progressive Bulgaria and significant losses for established political forces associated with the judiciary’s current state. Yankulov emphasized that translating the public support for judicial reform into concrete political action is a critical issue for Bulgaria’s future.
He suggested that the disappointing outcome for parties invested in maintaining the status quo demonstrates that citizens view reform as an inevitability. The minister stated, “I would like to believe that restoring legality in the running of the prosecution service will be the first small step of change.”
According to the Justice Minister, this initial step should not be delayed pending the election of a new Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) composition. While a swift SJC election is important, Yankulov stressed that procedural correctness must take precedence over speed.
He argued that safeguards are necessary to ensure the selection of honest professionals who will serve the public interest in an independent, rather than partisan, judicial system. Yankulov criticized the SJC and its Prosecutors’ College, suggesting they failed to recognize the changing circumstances over the past two months, implying they were attempting to “preserve what cannot be preserved.” He warned that if they could not act with professional dignity, the new parliament might resolve the issue through standard legislative action early in its term. The Ministry of Justice had previously published an analysis concerning the competency model for senior administrative leaders within the judiciary, including the Prosecutor General and various court heads.
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