Caretaker Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov stated on Monday that the judicial system should not remain under an acting Prosecutor General whose tenure, he argued, contradicts both law and morality. Commenting on the recent elections, Yankulov noted that the results clearly favored Progressive Bulgaria while signaling significant setbacks for established political entities perceived as maintaining the judiciary’s corrupt status quo. For Yankulov, translating the public mandate for judicial reform into tangible political action is a critical challenge for Bulgaria’s future.
He suggested that the poor showing of parties invested in maintaining the current judicial structure indicates that citizens view reform as unavoidable. 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 Yankulov, this necessary step should not be delayed pending the election of a new Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) composition. While the SJC election is important, he stressed that proper procedure must take precedence over speed.
He emphasized the need for safeguards to ensure that honest professionals, dedicated to an independent rather than party-dominated judiciary, are selected. The minister criticized the SJC and its Prosecutors’ College for failing to act responsibly during the past two months. Yankulov suggested that if they continue to falter, the new parliament might address the issue through standard legislative action early in its session.
This follows the Ministry of Justice’s publication of a working analysis in early April concerning the competency model for senior judicial administrators, including the Prosecutor General.
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