Serious disagreements between Bulgarian Justice Minister, Margarita Popova, and MPs from the ruling GERB party led to the postponement of debates on key amendments to the Judicial Power Act and the Penal Code.

During earlier talks in the Parliamentary Legal Committee, the Members of the Parliament from the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party rejected a number of Popova's proposals, revolving around the assessment of magistrates and their promotions.

Late Monday evening, during the second reading of the Bills, the Justice Minister objected the fact some of her ideas have not been included, insisting this way the MPs have altered her entire concept regarding judicial power in the country. Popova received the support of the Chair of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, Iskra Fidosova, also from GERB, leading to some proposals finally being passed, despite previous rejection by the Committee.

On Tuesday morning, the debates on amendments to the Judicial Power Act continued, however, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Anastas Anastasov, (GERB) declared mid-way the texts passed Monday have changed the concept and the Bill should not be discussed any further.

Anastasov was the moving force among GERB MPs to revise Popova's project. He proposed a postponement of the debates on both Bills since they are related, and the MPs almost unanimously supported him in their vote.

It remains unclear when exactly the Parliament is to continue work on these key Bills. It it does not happen Wednesday, the postponement will last for a while because the MPs are going on a prologued vacation, starting Thursday.

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