site.bta BSP Leader Mikov: Calls for Resignation of Top Judicial Body Are Blatant Interference in Judiciary Affairs

BSP Leader Mikov: Calls for Resignation of Top Judicial Body Are Blatant Interference in Judiciary Affairs

Sofia, January 27 (BTA) - Socialist leader Mihail Mikov told journalists in Parliament on Wednesday that calls by the incumbent for the resignation of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) are a blatant interference in the affairs of the independent judiciary. On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva and the parliamentary groups of GERB and the Reformist Bloc separately urged the SJC to disband in the wake of a recent spate of scandals in which it was involved.

Mikov said this was an attempt to make a scapegoat of the SJC because of the EU report under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism. Mikov said that the report gives a harsh assessment of what has been achieved by the government in the field of home affairs and fight against corruption. Mikov added that the responsibility falls primarily on the government which is the principal initiator of legislation. Mikov said that the whole government stands behind the policy of former Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov.

Mikov urged for a thorough analysis of EC's Cooperation and Verification Mechanism as it is often used for politically purposes. He said that many of the arguments in the report are taken off from the media which shows ignorance of the processes within the judiciary, noting that the findings of experts in subsequent reports have often been inconsistent, citing the idea of a permanent SJC.

According to Mikov, the scandals with the SJC are caused by attempts to shift responsibilities and replace the real problems of the judiciary and democracy in Bulgaria, the relations between the branches of government and the war between institutions in the past year.