Bulgarian President Rumen Radev boycotted the swearing-in ceremony for two newly elected Constitutional Court judges here on Thursday. The head of State's decisions prompted reactions from experts and politicians who were approached by the media:
Supreme Administrative Court President Georgi Cholakov: It is up to the President to decide against attending. Considering that he is challenging the judges' election, this makes sense. Two years ago, at another Constitutional Court ceremony [on November 15, 2021], the then President of the Supreme Court of Cassation Lozan Panov was absent and the procedure [for newly elected judges Sonya Yankulova and Yanaki Stoilov] took place nevertheless. Attendance of the ceremony is a sheer formality and does not affect the judges' election, which is completed once the National Assembly resolution has been gazetted. Each electing institution bears responsibility for these elections.
Supreme Court of Cassation President Galina Zaharova: Our presence here is entirely ceremonial, and it is prompted by respect for the institution. I am deeply convinced that institutions in the Republic of Bulgaria must be respected. I personally cannot but pay respects to the Constitutional Court which, in my opinion, is a custodian of the rule of law. There is always room for improvement in the transparency of the elections.
Continue the Change Co-leader Assen Vassilev: I am not a jurist, but everyone should fulfil their constitutional duties, regardless of whether they like it or not.
GERB leader Boyko Borissov: I assume that the President was absent from the ceremony due to previous engagements. The two Constitutional Court judges of the parliamentary quota were elected by the most transparent procedure, there was a hearing followed by a day-long plenary debate. By contrast, when he [the President] appoints a Constitutional Court judge, he decides single-handedly, without a hearing, without absolutely anything. I don't think it is right to accuse Parliament of a lack of transparency when you have appointed judges single-handedly without any hearing.
Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov: We have lodged an appeal with the Constitutional Court against a resolution that will be examined by people who trampled on the laws of the land and the Constitution. Bulgaria is no longer a State committed to the rule of law.We don't have a Constitutional Court, and we cease trusting at all the administration of justice and the judicial system of the Republic. There is no such thing. As from today, by their insolent actions, the brazen powerholders of Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms and GERB-UDF have practically buried the Bulgarian law and the Bulgarian Constitution.
Movement for Rights and Freedoms Floor Leader Delyan Peevski: President Radev's decision to stay out of the two Constitutional Court judges' swearing-in is irrelevant. President Radev is doing the bidding of BSP [Bulgarian Socialist Party] leader Korneliya Ninova who took the decision on the boycott instead of him.
BSP for Bulgaria Floor Leader Korneliya Ninova: The President's decision to miss the two Constitutional Court judges' oath is good. I recall that the BSP called on the President not to attend the ceremony. In our opinion, the amendments to the Constitution and the election of Constitutional Court judges were fundamentally flawed, so we take a positive view of Rumen Radev's actions. The President's non-attendance can definitely qualify as a failure to take the oath. Rosen Plevneliev set such a precedent, when he walked out of the ceremony and the nominee for judge was unable to assume office.
There Is Such a People Floor Leader Floor Leader Toshko Yordanov: The President is entitled to act as he thinks fit. It is a fact that the election of Constitutional Court judges was vitiated and, in my opinion, this [Radev's boycott] expresses an attitude to an immoral choice. He acted within his discretion, this is a moral act on his part.
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