site.btaDeadline for New Supreme Judicial Council Election Proposals Is This Week, Says Justice Minister

This week marks the deadline for submitting proposals regarding the election of a new Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) and any necessary legal amendments, Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev told journalists on Monday. According to Georgiev, the procedure for electing a new SJC has started, but Parliament has not yet elected members to fill its quota because “the opposition previously disrupted a session”. 

On October 10, 2024, Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) lambasted the nomination of Borislav Sarafov, who is currently acting Prosecutor General, for a full tenure as Bulgaria's top prosecutor. They argue that the term in office of the Supreme Judicial Council, which made the nomination, has long expired and it lacks "democratic legitimacy and public trust".

On December 5, 2024, CC-DB submitted a bill proposing that a Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) whose term has expired cannot hold and election procedure and cannot propose to the President candidates for Presidents of the Supreme Court of Cassation and the Supreme Administrative Court and for Prosecutor General. The main purpose of the bill is to guarantee greater transparency and public legitimacy in the election of the top three magistrates, CC-DB said in its reasoning. 

Georgiev emphasized that the elections should align with the preferences of Bulgarian magistrates, following public consultations and professional debates. He noted that magistrates know best what works in the election process and that their proposals are already being received. The SJC should consider each of these proposals, Georgiev added. 

He also said that the proposals will be summarized and sent to the National Assembly to determine what can be done for an effective election process. In Georgiev’s words the Justice Ministry had given an initial push to the process in March.

The Minister noted that he had asked for suggestions on improving the organization of the elections, citing issues with the electronic voting system. He suggested switching to paper ballots and improving accessibility for magistrates.