Caretaker Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov stated on Monday that the judicial system should not remain under an acting Prosecutor General who, according to him, operates contrary to law and morality. Reflecting on the recent elections, Yankulov noted that the results clearly identified a winner—Progressive Bulgaria—and major losers, specifically naming long-standing political forces associated with the judiciary’s corrupt status quo. For Yankulov, a critical issue for Bulgaria’s future is translating the public support for judicial reform into tangible political action.
He suggested that the poor showing for parties that resisted judicial change indicates that citizens view reform as inevitable. He stated, “I would like to believe that restoring legality in the running of the prosecution service will be the first small step of change.”
In the view of the Justice Minister, this initial step should not be delayed pending the election of a new composition for the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). While a prompt SJC election is necessary, Yankulov emphasized that procedural correctness is paramount, cautioning against any measure prioritizing speed over ensuring the selection of honest professionals committed to an independent, rather than partisan, judiciary.
Yankulov also criticized the SJC and its Prosecutors’ College, suggesting they had ample time over the past two months to recognize the situation and act with professional integrity. He warned that if they fail to do so, the new parliament might address the issue through ordinary legislative action early in its session. This commentary follows the Ministry of Justice’s publication of a working analysis on the competency model for senior judicial administrators in early April.
Topics: #yankulov #justice #minister
