Caretaker Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov stated on Monday that the judicial system should not remain under the leadership of an acting Prosecutor General who, according to him, operates contrary to law and morality. Commenting on Sunday’s elections, Yankulov noted that the results clearly indicated a victory for Progressive Bulgaria and significant setbacks for political groups historically associated with the judiciary’s corrupt status quo. For Yankulov, translating the public’s strong support for judicial reform into tangible political action is a critical issue for Bulgaria’s future.
He suggested that the electoral outcome demonstrated that citizens view reform as an inevitable necessity, particularly for the parties that opposed change. The Minister expressed a desire for restoring legality within the prosecution service, viewing it as a necessary initial step toward reform that should not be delayed pending the election of a new Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) composition. While stressing the need for a swift SJC election, Yankulov cautioned that the process must prioritize proper procedure over speed.
He emphasized the necessity of ensuring that only honest professionals are selected to maintain an independent judiciary, rather than one controlled by political parties. Yankulov criticized the SJC and its Prosecutors’ College, suggesting they had been given ample time to adapt but failed to do so, thereby losing professional dignity. He warned that if they remain unable to adjust, the new parliament could address the matter through standard legislative action early in its first session.
These remarks follow the Ministry of Justice’s publication of a competency model analysis for senior judicial administrators in early April.
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