Justice Minister Yankulov Urges Immediate Removal of Acting Prosecutor General, Calls for Swift Judicial Reform

Caretaker Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov stated on Monday that the judicial system should not remain under the leadership of an acting Prosecutor General, whom he described as acting contrary to law and morality. Speaking after Sunday’s elections, Yankulov noted that the results clearly favored Progressive Bulgaria while signaling significant setbacks for established political groups associated with the judiciary’s perceived corrupt status quo. According to Yankulov, a key challenge for Bulgaria’s future is translating the public’s evident support for judicial reform into concrete political action.

He suggested that the poor electoral outcome for parties invested in maintaining the current judicial structure demonstrates that reform is viewed by citizens as inevitable. “I would like to believe that restoring legality in the running of the prosecution service will be the first small step of change,” Yankulov commented, asserting that this step should not be delayed pending the election of a new Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). While he emphasized the necessity of a swift SJC election, he stressed that the process must prioritize correctness over speed.

He argued that safeguards must ensure the selection of honest professionals committed to an independent, rather than partisan, judiciary. Yankulov expressed concern regarding the SJC and its Prosecutors’ College, suggesting they have had ample opportunity to recognize the changing circumstances and act with professional integrity. He warned that if they fail to do so, the new parliament might address the issue through standard legislative action early in its term.

These comments followed the Ministry of Justice releasing a working analysis of the competency model for senior judicial administrators, including the Prosecutor General and various court presidents.

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