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 the recent elections, Yankulov noted that the results clearly favored Progressive Bulgaria while signaling significant setbacks for established political forces associated with the judiciary’s current status quo. Yankulov emphasized that translating the public mandate for judicial reform into concrete political action is a critical issue for Bulgaria’s future.
He argued that the election outcome demonstrates that the public views judicial reform as inevitable, representing a major blow to parties invested in maintaining the existing system. The Justice Minister expressed his belief that restoring legality within the prosecution service should be an immediate step toward change, one that should not be delayed pending the election of a new Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) composition. While acknowledging the importance of a swift SJC election, Yankulov stressed that process integrity must take precedence over speed.
He asserted that the selection process must guarantee that independent professionals, committed to the public interest rather than party lines, are appointed. Furthermore, Yankulov criticized the SJC and its Prosecutors’ College, suggesting they missed opportunities over the past two months to address the situation professionally. He warned that if they fail to act, the new parliament might address the issue through standard legislative means early in its session.
This statement follows the Ministry of Justice’s publication of a competency model analysis for senior judicial administrators, including the Prosecutor General and supreme court presidents.
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It seems difficult to separate the call for judicial reform from the context of the recent elections.