Bulgarian President calls for consensus on Supreme Judicial Council election

Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova has called for consensus within the National Assembly regarding the election of a new Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). She emphasized that the parliament has a duty to act as an institution to restore public trust in the judiciary, which has been undermined by the long-expired mandate of the previous council.

Yotova stressed the need for a transparent selection process involving all parliamentary groups, both governing and opposition, to ensure that high-quality professionals are chosen. She warned that any suspicion or rumors regarding the selection process could further damage the credibility of the institution.

In a related discussion on judicial reform, MP Velislav Velichkov of the 'We Continue the Change' party stated that the SJC election will serve as a litmus test for whether real change is occurring in the judicial branch. He highlighted the importance of the parliamentary quota, suggesting it should consist of individuals with high moral integrity and professional independence to counter existing influences. Velichkov noted that competition for the professional quota is unusually high, with 25 candidates vying for five positions.