site.btaPower-sharing Green Movement Won't Back Desislava Atanasova's Nomination to Constitutional Court

The Green Movement said that it cannot agree to the nomination of Desislava Atanasova as a constitutional judge in a statement sent to the media on Thursday. The Green Movement makes up the coalition Democratic Bulgaria together with Yes, Bulgaria and Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB). 
 
 According to the party, Atanasova's nomination raises tension and doubts in the public about meeting the requirements of the Constitution for the post, as well as about the prevalence of political over professional qualities. Similar are the objections of the Green Movement to Vazrazhdane nomination for a constitutional judge of MP Tsveta Rangelova.  
  
The position calls on all MPs from Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria to remain true to the principles for which they have united and to vote against these two nominations. 
  
According to the Green Movement, for the election of constitutional judges it is important to nominate individuals with high professional and moral qualities, in an open and clear procedure. The constitutional judges must have undisputed authority and very high professional competence, and it is of particular importance that they be independent in their work in the Constitutional Court, the party writes, adding that the way in which the members of the Constitutional Court and the regulatory bodies will be elected is a test of how successful the constitutional reform is. 
 
The Green Movement also underscore that the nomination of Borislav Belazelkov to the Constitutional Court by CC-DB, without sufficient prior internal discussion, as well as the support for the nomination of GERB’s Desislava Atanasova by the leaders of the coalition has not been coordinated with them.  
  
The nominations to the Constitutional Court are three: of  Vazrazhdane - Tsveta Rangelova, of GERB-UDF - Desislava Atanasova, and of CC-DB - Borislav Belazelkov. The constitutional affairs committee of the National Assembly is hearing the three candidates for the Constitutional Court. The parliamentary quota consists of two seats. 

There is also dissent in the Continue the Change ranks as regards the support for the Constitutional Court bid of Desislava Atanasova. On Denyat s Veselin Dremdzhiev, a political talkshow broadcast on TV1 and Eurocom, Continue the Change MP Konstantin Bachiiski said that Atanasova‘s nomination „drew a bitter smile“ from him and that he couldn‘t think of a lower-level candidate for a Constitutional Court judge than her. "I think that Desislava Atanasova‘s bid is not up to the height of the institution and that she is not the right candidate,“ he said.