Anti-Corruption, Prosecutor Oversight Draft Laws Prepared, Justice Minister Says

Caretaker Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov stated in an interview with Bulgarian National Radio that his team has finalized several key pieces of draft legislation intended for inclusion in the Recovery and Resilience Plan. These proposed bills include measures aimed at establishing an apoliticized anti-corruption commission and enhancing the mechanism for investigating the prosecutor general. Yankulov noted that these drafts have received approval from the Council of Ministers and have been consulted with the European Commission, suggesting that their adoption would represent a positive development for the justice sector.

Beyond the proposed legislation, Yankulov addressed the expectations surrounding the election of a new Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) by a future regular government. Regarding the process, he cautioned against an overemphasis on strict deadlines, arguing that the focus should instead remain on quality. Specifically concerning the parliamentary quota within the SJC, Yankulov suggested that the selection rules governing the process require revision first.

The SJC comprises 22 members: 11 appointed by parliament and 11 by the judiciary. Yankulov emphasized that the parliamentary quota alone cannot fundamentally alter the overall composition of the council, stressing that the selection of professionals for the judicial quota remains critically important. He also highlighted an organizational concern regarding the SJC’s Prosecutors Chamber, which currently includes former and future subordinates of the prosecutor general.

Yankulov suggested that appointing individuals from outside the prosecution service through the parliamentary quota could serve as a necessary counterbalance to those with internal departmental ties, thereby strengthening the integrity of the anti-graft efforts within the system.

Topics: #justice #anti #corruption