site.btaParliament Votes in Principle to Restrict Foreign Funding for Organizations of Judges, Prosecutors, Investigators and Court Clerks

Sofia, July 19 (BTA) - On 116-6 votes with 52 abstentions, on Wednesday the legislature 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.

The plenary supported them on first reading nearly without debate.

The proposed revisions were opposed by tens of organizations, including the union of judges, of lawyers and of prosecutors. Prosecutor General Sotir Tsatsarov and Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that the restrictions should be softened to allow financing from EU sources - and the head of the parliamentary legislation committee, Danail Kirilov, promised to revise the proposed texts accordingly before they are put to a final vote.

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the judicial reform Ekaterina Zaharieva is opposed to the restrictions altogether.

The America for Bulgaria Foundation, which is supporting Bulgarian projects in the area of rule of law, slammed the contemplated revisions and said they are inconsistent with the Bulgarian Constitution and international acts, undermine the Euro-Atlantic values shared by Bulgaria and its EU and NATO allies and the long-standing legacy of friendship and goodwill between America and Bulgaria.