Caretaker Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov stated on Monday that the judicial system should not remain under the leadership of an acting Prosecutor General whose tenure he described as contrary to both law and morality. Following Sunday’s elections, Yankulov commented that the results clearly identified a victor in Progressive Bulgaria and major losers among the established political forces associated with the judiciary’s perceived corrupt status quo. According to Yankulov, a critical issue for Bulgaria’s future is converting the public’s evident support for judicial reform into concrete political action.
He suggested that the poor outcome for parties that opposed judicial change indicates that citizens view reform as an inevitability. The minister expressed his belief that restoring legality within the prosecution service should constitute the initial step toward change, a step he believes should not await the election of a new Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). While emphasizing the necessity of a swift SJC election, Yankulov stressed that the process must prioritize correctness over speed.
He argued that safeguards must ensure the selection of honest professionals committed to an independent judiciary, rather than one controlled by political parties. He stated that the SJC and its Prosecutors’ College had been given ample time over the past two months to recognize the situation and act with professional dignity. If they fail to do so, Yankulov warned that the new parliament might address the issue through standard legislative action early in its session.
This commentary highlights the ongoing tension within the Bulgarian justice sector, following recent analyses published by the Ministry of Justice concerning the competency model for senior judicial administrators.
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Will these calls for reform actually lead to tangible changes in the judicial process?
What specific reforms does Justice Minister Yankulov propose for the judicial system?