Bulgaria tightens High Judicial Council rules, forms prosecutors' body

Member of Parliament Dimitar Petrov said recent amendments to the Bulgarian Law on the Judiciary focus on improving the procedures for selecting members of the High Judicial Council (VSS). The new rules introduce detailed mechanisms for candidate verification, allow citizens and NGOs to submit nominations and raise concerns about political or economic dependencies, and extend the selection process until November to ensure thorough scrutiny.

In parallel, a group of more than 120 prosecutors and investigators founded the Independent Association of Bulgarian Prosecutors (NSBP). The association aims to promote independence, professionalism and public trust in the prosecutorial service, and it will monitor the upcoming VSS elections to ensure a free and transparent selection. The formation of NSBP reflects broader efforts to reform Bulgaria’s judicial system and strengthen the rule of law.