Bulgaria: New Constitutional Court Judges Sworn In Amid Controversy
Desislava Atanasova and Borislav Belazelkov officially assumed their roles as members of the Constitutional Court in Bulgaria during a formal ceremony on Friday
Judges from the Sofia Regional Court (SRS) demonstrated on Friday over problems at their institution largely blamed on the country's top decisionmaking body.
Metodi Lalov, who on Friday resigned as SRS chair, also joined their action in front of the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS).
Lalov stepped down, citing lack of will to work under the present conditions, with an excessive burden placed on every judge working there as at least 1000 court cases are assigned per person every year.
Public broadcaster quotes Lalov as saying the official VSS representative, Dimitar Uzunov, sent him a message on Viber calling on him to stop the protest.
Demonstrators argue the VSS did little to address their needs, responding to their call for help with "repression".
Earlier, the demonstration had also been announced as a sign of solidarity with a decision to persecute judge Miroslava Todorova through disciplinary proceedigs.
Tensions have been on the rise within the judiciary for several years, with groups within the VSS, at various courts and in rivalling political parties disputing the way Bulgaria should carry out its judicial reform, considered an urgency by EU institutions.
Bulgaria remains the only EU country with no high-profile politician having been placed behind bars, despite evidence of widespread corruption.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
Over the next 24 hours, expect cloudy skies with rainfall across the eastern half of the country, where precipitation may be intense in some areas. Meanwhile, the western half will see clouds clearing during the day, becoming mostly sunny
In response to the recent deaths of two newborns due to whooping cough, the Ministry of Health in Bulgaria has implemented measures to curb the spread of the disease
Amidst growing discontent among taxi operators across Bulgaria, drivers in major cities like Burgas, Varna, and now Plovdiv are demanding a substantial hike in fares to cope with rising operational costs
Two infants from Kyustendil have tragically lost their lives after contracting whooping cough
Sofia's Lunar Festival of Lights is back, illuminating the city with more than 20 captivating light installations across its most iconic landmarks.
Overnight, rainfall across the country will temporarily cease, with some areas experiencing breaks in the clouds
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022