site.btaGeorgi Cholakov's Election as Supreme Administrative Court President Confirmed

Sofia, October 19 (BTA) - Georgi Cholakov's election as President of the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) was upheld by the new Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) on Thursday after he was interviewed by the Council earlier in the day. The vote was 20 to 4. His appointment to the post is to be decreed by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev.

Cholakov was first elected SAC chief by the old SJC, but President Radev refused to decree his appointment because he said the election would have been more legitimate if carried out by the newly elected SJC. When the new SJC took up the matter, it decided not to repeat the procedure from the beginning and chose instead to interview the elected candidate and take a confirmation vote. The Bulgarian President may not refuse to appoint Cholakov a second time.

After Thursday's second election, some members of the new SJC argued that the Council should have interviewed not only Cholakov but also his opponent in the first election, Sonya Yankoulova, and should have voted separately on each of them. Cholakov told the media that the second vote was carried out according to the procedure established by law and according to the SJC rules.

Cholakov said he did not understand why President Radev refused to decree his appointment the first time. "That was the President's judgment. He did not provide any reasons, but this is his constitutional power," he said.

SJC Representative Member Boyan Magdalinchev said his institution acknowledged Cholakov's skills and abilities and appreciated the fact that it was he who earned the nomination of the SAC Plenum.