Caretaker Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov stated on Monday that the judicial system should not remain under an acting Prosecutor General whose tenure he deemed contrary to law and morality. Commenting on Sunday’s elections, Yankulov indicated that the results clearly favored Progressive Bulgaria while marking significant losses for established political groups associated with the judiciary’s perceived corruption. According to Yankulov, a critical challenge for Bulgaria’s future is translating the public support for judicial reform into tangible political action.
He noted that the disappointing electoral outcome for parties invested in maintaining the status quo suggests that citizens view reform as an inevitability. The Justice Minister expressed his belief that restoring legality within the prosecution service should be an immediate step toward change, one that should not await the election of a new Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) composition. While he stressed the importance of a swift SJC election, Yankulov emphasized that procedural correctness must take precedence over speed.
He argued that selecting honest professionals committed to an independent, rather than party-influenced, judiciary is paramount. Yankulov suggested that the SJC and its Prosecutors’ College had ample opportunity over the past two months to recognize the situation and act with professional integrity. He warned that if they failed to do so, the newly formed parliament might address the issue through ordinary legislative means early in its session.
This follows the Ministry of Justice publishing a competency model analysis for senior judicial administrators, including the Prosecutor General and supreme court presidents, in early April.
Topics: #yankulov #justice #minister
It seems like the call for judicial reform is closely tied to the outcome of the recent elections.