site.btaDesislava Ahladova Replaces Danail Kirilov as Justice Minister

Sofia, September 3 (BTA) - On Thursday, Desislava Ahladova was
elected Justice Minister by Parliament on 98-45 votes and one
abstention. She was sworn in, replacing Danail Kirilov, who
tendered his resignation last week.

Ahladova was Kirilov's deputy and has been rumoured as his
likely successor for several days now.

After her election, she thanked the MPs, voicing hope that she
will stand up to the trust placed in her.

Socialist MP Krum Zarkov noted that Kirilov is the second
justice minister to go within this Cabinet, which proves the
incumbents' failure in the field of justice.
Zarkov noted that the European Commission's monitoring of
Bulgaria is still in place, despite the claims that it has been
lifted. "Regardless of whom you elect justice minister today,
their failure is predetermined," he told the power-holders,
adding that Bulgaria needs a general change and not personnel
reshuffles.

Ahladova said during a news briefing after her election that her
 main priority will be e-justice.

Describing her professional background, Ahladova said she
started her career in the Judiciary as a junior judge,
progressing to a regional judge, deputy court president and
president of the Regional Court in the western city of Pernik.
She served as deputy justice minister since May of 2017,
responsible for the Registry Agency, Bulgarian citizenship, the
National Legal Aid Bureau, the work of notaries and private and
public enforcement agents.

Commenting the draft constitution, proposed by GERB, Minister
Ahladova said that the proposals are in line with many of the
European Commission's and the Venice Commission's
recommendations for continuing the Judiciary's reform. She gave
as an example the division of the Supreme Judicial Council into
a Judges Council and a Prosecutors Council, as well as scrapping
 the plenum, which in her words, was one of the Venice
Commission's main recommendations in 2017.

Asked about the Justice Minister's influence over the Judiciary
and the career appointments of judges and prosecutors, she said
that the proposed constitutional amendments also address this
issue, which was raised back in 2015.

Commenting the support of GERB's coalition partners, Ahladova
said that they were also in favour of her bid for the post.

Commenting the controversial constitutional amendments, the new
Justice Minister was adamant that a political and public
consensus must be reached before such amendments are adopted.
RY/MY