One of the first tasks before the 52nd National Assembly is to replace the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). However, what criteria should this be based on and is it possible to put an end to the fusion between politicians, magistrates and business?
“The old model will probably be destroyed. The question is how they will adapt to the new schemes. I am personally a moderate skeptic regarding the future. Unfortunately, Bulgaria is a type of clientelistic country“, said Tihomir Bezlov from the Center for the Study of Democracy in “This Morning“ on bTV.
“Over the years, we have seen so many different versions of new parties. One of the things that happens after a period of “abstinence“ and restructuring is a rearrangement. We hope that it will be within more optimal limits and that it will not reach the extremes that we have observed“, commented Bezlov.
For him, the big problem of the judicial system is the very way in which the role of the Prosecutor General is structured as an overly centralized figure.
„The most important thing was this negative selection that happened over the years. Decent magistrates remained at the lower levels, and those who were party loyal went up“, pointed out Tihomir Bezlov.
„The question is the way in which these magistrates, who will represent the two colleges, to what extent will they be influenced by these clienteles that we are talking about“, he added.
„The vast majority of magistrates are decent people and fairly honorable. What spoils the milk and "It sours, it's not that much," commented Boyko Stankushev, director of the "Anti-Corruption Fund."
“The big problem is not how and who will be elected to the future SJC, but that as a result of this flawed career growth over the past many years, people with lower capacity and practically zero loyalty, because they are criminals, but occupy high positions, have overshadowed those below them," said Stankushev.
According to him, the next SJC should be made up of honest people and "idealists" should be sought at first.
“There are senior magistrates who graduated from law schools in some dubious higher education institutions. Some of them are double-crossers. It is very well known who is who,“ Boyko added Stankushev.
“The essence of the deep state is not Borisov, Peevski, etc. These are other entities that pull everyone's strings“, said Boyko Stankushev.