site.btaContinue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria MPs Call for Review of Anti-Corruption Commission Leadership Nomination Procedure

Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) MPs Lena Borislavova, Bogdan Bogdanov and Svilen Trifonov have submitted a request to the Parliamentary Committee on Prevention and Counteraction of Corruption demanding a review into whether “the haste of the ruling majority, with the involvement of [Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning Floor Leader] Delyan Peevski,” may have prevented the Supreme Bar Council from complying with legal requirements in the procedure for appointing lawyer Nina Sedefova as a member of the nomination commission tasked with selecting the leadership of the Anti-Corruption Commission, the press office of Continue the Change reported here on Friday.

Last week, the Parliamentary Committee on Prevention and Counteraction of Corruption appointed as members of the nomination commission Justice Ministry Secretary General Nevena Milova, Supreme Bar Council lawyer Nina Sedefova, Supreme Court of Cassation member Kalin Kalpakchiev, Ombudsman’s Chief Secretary Aysun Avdzhiev and National Audit Office Vice President Silvia Kadreva. This commission is responsible for interviewing and nominating the leadership of the Anti-Corruption Commission. The meeting to review the documents and proposals of the candidates who have advanced to this stage is scheduled for Monday, August 11, according to the official website of the National Assembly.

"The procedure for selecting the new leadership of the Anti-Corruption Commission is being carried out under extremely shortened deadlines and limited opportunity for public oversight, during the summer holiday season. Only 12 days were given from the introduction of the procedural rules in Parliament to the deadline for nominations," the MPs stated in their reasoning.

In their stand, submitted to the parliamentary committee, the MPs point out that the meeting of the Supreme Bar Council was held in a hybrid format via Zoom and Viber, despite the fact that the Bar Act requires in-person meetings for extraordinary sessions and a 14-day notice period. Furthermore, the Council’s existing rules only allow remote participation under exceptional circumstances, which, the MPs argue, had not been declared at the time.

The MPs are calling on the parliamentary committee to formally request information from the Supreme Bar Council whether the 14-day written notice requirement for the meeting had been fulfilled, was participation via Zoom and Viber legally valid, did the meeting have quorum, and is it necessary and appropriate to grant an extension to the Bar Council to conduct a lawful selection process for its representative to the nomination commission, in light of the specific legal framework for convening and conducting such meetings.

The MPs also ask whether lawyer Nina Sedefova is obliged to declare any circumstances that might affect her impartiality.

CC-DB emphasizes the need for full transparency and institutional legitimacy in the selection procedure for the nomination commission. They insist that the commission’s activities should be suspended until all facts and circumstances casting doubt on its impartiality and lawful formation have been clarified.