Bulgaria's Justice Minister against Replacing Chief Prosecutor

Politics » DOMESTIC | June 5, 2012, Tuesday // 11:36
Bulgaria's Justice Minister: Too Early to Replace Chief Prosecutor: Bulgaria's Justice Minister against Replacing Chief Prosecutor According to Justice Minister, Diana Kovacheva, Bulgaria must focus on amendments of the Judicial Power Act, and it is too early to think of a new Chief Prosecutor. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

It is too early for Bulgaria to have a new Chief Prosecutor, according to Justice Minister, Diana Kovacheva.

Speaking in an interview for the Bulgarian National Television, BNT, Tuesday morning, she said that the election of the next Chief Prosecutor might not be the task of the Supreme Judicial Council, VSS.

"It is very important to examine the motives of the Members of the Parliament to submit such proposal – if they stem from the need to do research and become acquainted with the candidates – this is a long process than cannot conclude in a month. We are focusing on amendments of the Judicial Power Act, and it is too early to think of a new Chief Prosecutor," the Minister explained, adding that the recommendations of the European Commission in the last two reports on Bulgaria under the Verification and Cooperation Mechanism target the judicial reform not a structural reform at VSS.

Kovacheva pointed out that the reform mainly pertains to a transparent and competitive way to hire good professionals and honest people for the judicial system and in VSS in particular as key factor for their good functioning.

"In the reports EC has not recommended a direct election of VSS members. The subject emerged in March when we discussed with the Commission possible changes in the way the next VSS is elected and I believe we reached an agreement. Direct election of VSS members is not limited to a direct vote, but also pertains to a procedure of direct nomination, included as an amendment already, where each magistrate will have the opportunity to nominate his or her favorite. This is not in any way a limited or pre-set choice. I hope the reform we are proposing will receive high marks from the EC," stressed she.

Kovacheva further stated that she has "work" relations with the Supreme Council and voiced the opinion that in the future the reform might include reducing the length of the term of its members or having some sort of internal rotation all while VSS would remain a permanently acting body, not a temporary one as some other experts want.

Regarding Court trials, the Minister noted that about 93% of them conclude with guilty verdicts and within the deadline.

"EC, however, focuses on high-profile cases such as the one of Galevi Brothers. The report will certainly take into account both the fact that they were sentenced and the fact they managed to escape justice," she concluded, pointing out that there is no need to amend the Penal Code since it is seen by experts as being fully aligned with European standards.

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Tags: Justice Minister, Diana Kovacheva, amendments, Judicial Power Act, Chief Prosecutor, VSS, EC, reform, penal code, Verification and Cooperation Mechanism, report, Galevi brothers

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