Bulgaria’s Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) has failed in its third attempt to elect a Chair of the Sofia Appellate Court.

The only candidate for the post, Neli Kutskova, Judge at the Sofia Appellate Court, was backed by 9 VSS members, with four votes against and 6 abstentions, according to the BGNES news agency.

In order for a candidate to be elected Sofia Appellate Court Chair, the nomination needs to be backed by at least 13 VSS members.

The Sofia Appellate Court has had no Chair for over a year.

The former Chair of the court, Veselin Pengezov, was removed from office in May 2014 over a probe against him for embezzlement under the EU operational program Administrative Capacity.