site.btaUnion of Bulgarian Jurists Sends Letter to President Protesting against Revisions to Judicial System Act

Sofia, July 25 (BTA) - The Union of Bulgarian Jurists has sent a letter to the President taking a stance against the proposed revisions to the Judicial System Act. The texts have a retrograde effect on the development of democratic processes and the establishment of the state of law, the jurists say.

According to many top jurists and several dozen NGOs, the revisions are discriminating and unquestionably anti-constitutional. They violate international acts and agreements to which Bulgaria is party, the union claims.

The revisions directly concern the union and the professional organisations of judges, prosecutors, investigators and court clerks, and that in the direction of limiting the right to association and their normal functioning. This is not permissible in a state of law, the letter says.

On July 19 the National Assembly voted in principle controversial revisions to the Judicial System Act which ban foreign financing for professional organizations of judges, prosecutors, investigators and court clerks. The revisions were proposed by MPs of GERB and the United Patriots and triggered an outlash in the non-government sector. According to the magistrates, the bill also tries to restrict their right of free association.