The Legal Committee unanimously adopted the three bills on changes in the judiciary that could lead to blocking the election of Borislav Sarafov as Prosecutor General, as well as his removal from the position of temporary head of the institution. Parliament has one week to adopt the legislation before the Supreme Judicial Council votes on Sarafov's candidacy for Prosecutor General on January 16.
The start of the first legal committee began with an ambitious program, according to its chairman, Rosen Zhelyazkov. Surprisingly and quickly, eight projects received approval - five for elections and three for religions. Then, 10 days before the election of the Prosecutor General, a move was made to suspend the procedure. Borislav Sarafov is the only candidate in it. The acting Minister of Justice was also present at the meeting. Maria Pavlova stated that judicial reform has been underway for 30 years and each one is worse than the next because it is being done piecemeal and in a hurry.
All three draft amendments to the Judiciary Act were adopted on first reading. The proposals of PP-DB and ITN with a full majority, and that of "Vazrazhdane" with 20 votes, as it was not supported by "DPS - New Beginning". It focuses on the expired mandate of the Supreme Judicial Council, which, according to the proposers, cannot elect the three big names in the judiciary in its current composition.
Petar Petrov - "Vazrazhdane": "We believe that the procedure that is currently underway and is expected to be completed on the 16th is extremely flawed and should not be brought to an end."
The draft of "Continuing Change - Democratic Bulgaria" provides that the Prosecutor General shall be proposed by all members of the Supreme Judicial Council, not just those from the Prosecutorial College. And the one of "There is such a people" includes limitations on the powers of the Prosecutor General and his deputies. The former Minister of Justice and current deputy from the State Duma Atanas Slavov stated that the current council has no moral right to choose prosecutor number one.
"If he is elected for a new seven-year term, we will have the longest term in our legal history. Maybe the SJC will outlive it, of course," said Atanas Slavov from PP-DB:
"These proposals will have our principled support, but we will be critical and constructive between the first and second readings and in the hall," said Andrey Valchev from "BSP - United Left":
Raya Nazaryan declared GERB's support at the first reading of all three bills:
"The decision we will make is more political than legal, since it is in a situation where the National Assembly has not been able to conduct a procedure for electing members of the SJC for more than two years, which presents the members of parliament with a situation where they are drawing rights from their own failure to do so. The goal is clear. I think it is no secret to anyone what needs to be achieved and we will approach it responsibly both politically and socially and legally", added Nazaryan.
She pointed out that there are not enough opinions from professional and non-governmental organizations, as well as an analysis of whether the texts are constitutionally compliant. That is why GERB insists on sufficient time between the first and second readings so that the texts can be refined.
"There are public sentiments and expectations", she pointed out.
The acting Minister of Justice and Borislav Sarafov's until recent deputy, Maria Pavlova, also participated in the commission. Pavlova spoke out against the changes:
"I was a little confused by your statements, today you will make a legal or political decision. You cannot regulate any public relations and decide public attitudes with measures that contradict the laws and the constitution."
According to Pavlova, each subsequent change in the judicial system becomes worse and worse because it is being worked on piecemeal:
"You will not solve anything by rushing. On the contrary, it will become an even bigger problem."
The election of the Prosecutor General is on January 16. The only candidate is Borislav Sarafov.