site.btaProsecutors Chamber Decides Not to Appoint New Acting Prosecutor General

After a debate during a meeting of the Prosecutors Chamber on Wednesday, the Prosecutors Chamber of the Supreme Judicial Council decided that it will not appoint a new acting prosecutor general.

With the latest amendments to the Judicial System Act, Parliament determined that in the event of early termination or expiry of the term of office of the prosecutor general, of the head of the Supreme Court of Cassation or the head of the Supreme Administrative Court, one shall be appointed to temporarily perform the relevant functions that come with the respective position. The same person cannot be acting prosecutor general, head of the Supreme Court of Cassation or head of the Supreme Administrative Court for longer than 6 months, regardless of whether there have been interruptions in the performance of the functions.

The amendments were voted on January 15 and entered into force on January 21.

The members of the Prosecutors Chamber voted on their decision on the grounds that the legal changes do not have retroactive effect and do not apply to existing cases. Borislav Sarafov was appointed acting Prosecutor General on June 16, 2023.

Prosecutors Chamber member Yordan Stoev said that the latest amendments terminated the procedure for electing a prosecutor general, in which Sarafov was the only candidate. The case also reached the Supreme Administrative Court, while the Constitutional Court was approached.