Bulgarian judicial and legislative reform efforts

The Bulgarian government has initiated a series of broad legislative and institutional reforms through a four-year strategic management program. A primary pillar of this plan is judicial reform, which aims to restore institutional legitimacy by amending the Judicial System Act. Key objectives include the decentralization of the prosecution service, digital transformation, and the implementation of European standards.

To combat political pressure on magistrates and the influence of oligarchic circles, the government has proposed a national strategy for radical judicial reform. This includes ensuring integrity in the election of the Supreme Judicial Council and establishing a confidential reporting mechanism via the Ministry of Justice website to allow magistrates to report attempts to influence their independent voting. Proposed constitutional changes also include requiring a 3/5 majority for electing the Supreme Judicial Council and restoring the President’s powers regarding the appointment of caretaker cabinets.

Parallel efforts are underway to modernize the juvenile justice system. The Bulgarian Ombudsman, Velislava Delcheva, and Minister of Justice Nikolay Naydenov are collaborating to draft a new law to replace the 1958 framework. This initiative seeks to align child rights with international standards by emphasizing restorative justice, establishing specialized judicial bodies for minors, and shifting from closed-type institutionalization toward community-based social services. A joint working group involving the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, and various non-governmental organizations will develop the conceptual framework for these changes.