Former Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Justice Zinaida Zlatanova commented on the program “120 Minutes“ the current events in the judiciary and the resignation of the acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov.
According to her, what is happening should not be viewed solely as a reaction to the political changes after the elections, but as a result of actions of deep-rooted influence in the system.
“I would offer a slightly different version – that the status quo in the judicial system very skillfully orchestrates the processes in such a way that it seems that the prosecutor's office is a victim of political power“, she said.
According to her, key decisions are made in a controlled manner and there is obviously some influence outside the judicial system. As an example, she cited the abrupt change in the position of the Supreme Judicial Council in the case of Ivan Geshev – within 24 hours from his greatest defender to his dismissal.
According to her, it is these dependencies that are the main obstacle to real judicial reform.
Zlatanova emphasized that the restoration of the rule of law is not limited to the judicial system alone.
“This is a much broader process – how regulators, the administration, the system for executing sentences work. We are decades behind“, she added. As a key moment, she pointed to the upcoming election of a new Supreme Judicial Council.
In conclusion, Zlatanova also commented on the international response to the elections in Bulgaria: “The election is due to the unification around the idea of justice. This is extremely impressive.“
In her words, Europe will judge the new government not by preliminary assessments, but by its real actions.