site.btaSJC Expresses Reservations on Some Proposed Constitutional Amendments

The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has expressed reservations on some of the proposed amendments to the Constitution during an extraordinary meeting, also attended by Justice Minister Atanas Slavov.

SJC member Tsvetinka Pashkunova said that the general opinion expresses disagreement with the proposal to reduce the powers of the prosecutor general. Supervision, legality and methodological guidance are necessary powers of the prosecutor general, Pashkunova said. She pointed out that the SJC was against the change, according to which the prosecutor's office would only be involved in civil cases if they were about children or persons in need of protection.

The SJC is against its splitting into two councils, she said, adding that there are no motives for such a decision. According to her, reducing the number of prosecutors will block the work of the SJC's prosecutors chamber because there will actually be three of them, including the chief prosecutor.

According to her, there is no way for the ordinary National Assembly to make these changes. The same applies to the shorter terms of the presidents of the supreme courts and the prosecutor general, she added.

SJC member Atanaska Disheva in turn said that she agrees with some of what Pashkunova said about the powers of the prosecutor general. Disheva supports the SJC's division.