The acting Minister of Justice Andrey Yankulov and the former Minister of the Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev entered into an open in absentia clash over the methods for removing the acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov. The dispute between the executive branch and the key figure from the "Progressive Bulgaria" party, which won an absolute majority, reveals serious differences about the limits of institutional intervention in the judicial system.
The tension escalated after a television appearance by Ivan Demerdzhiev, in which he demanded tough measures against the head of the state prosecution, who, according to him, has been holding the position illegally since July 2025. The representative of the new political force called on the justice department to directly use its powers to restrict access to the building.
"Sarafov must be categorically removed immediately. I don't see why Yankulov is posting on social networks, he is the principal of the General Directorate “Security“, which should restrict Sarafov's access to his office, since his mandate has expired long ago," said Ivan Demerdzhiev on bTV. He emphasized that the Supreme Court of Cassation and the Constitutional Court have already given their opinions on the case, which makes Borislav Sarafov's stay in office "legally intolerable" and a form of usurpation of power.
The response from the caretaker cabinet was not long in coming. Minister Andrei Yankulov categorically declared himself against the idea of physical violence and police intervention in the offices of the judiciary. In his Facebook post, the Minister of Justice issued a sharp warning against crossing the boundaries of the law.
"Nothing good can await us as a society if, since the justice system is unable to resolve the legal problem with the legitimacy of our Chief Prosecutor, those who currently hold a monopoly on the use of state violence start to resolve it by force," wrote Andrey Yankulov. He added that anyone who wants to cross this red line will soon have the opportunity to do so as a holder of power.
Against the backdrop of the institutional conflict, Ivan Demerdzhiev outlined the upcoming steps of the "Progressive Bulgaria" party, which has 121 deputies in parliament. According to him, the new majority will take parallel actions to completely fill the Supreme Judicial Council with "unquestionable professionals" and will avoid compromising political figures.
The former Interior Minister emphasized that the first part of the new formation's management program is focused entirely on dismantling the current management model by cutting off access to public financial resources. He also hinted at his readiness to once again take over the leadership of the Ministry of Interior if such a decision is made, but expressed support for the work of the current Secretary General Georgi Kandev.