Bulgarian PM Begs Notorious Judge to Withdraw

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has once again urged controversial magistrate Veneta Markovska ,who was recently elected constitutional judge, to withdraw.

Markovska's nomination and following election for one of Parliament's two candidates to serve on Bulgaria's Constitutional Court raised controversy after information was leaked that she had attempted to use her influence to pressure the Ministry of Interior to suppress an investigation.

Borisov has now called upon Markovska to withdraw on three occasions.

On Wednesday, the Bulgarian PM reiterated that his ruling centrist-right GERB is only responsible for the election of constitutional judge Anastas Anastasov, who was officially endorsed by the party.

He added that he did not know whether Markovska will take the oath of office on Thursday.

"I am sure that the Prosecutor's Office will quickly carry out an investigation and determine whether judge Veneta Markovska is innocent or not," Borisov stated, as cited by the Focus news agency.

The Markovska case has triggered the European Commission to issue a warning that it could publish an emergency report for Bulgaria on the so-called Cooperation and Verification Mechanism for Corruption and Organized Crime.

Markovska has continuously and vehemently denied all accusations of attempting to illicitly use her influence, albeit without failing to produce a coherent alternative narrative regarding the events.