site.btaPresident Radev: Current Supreme Judicial Council Woven by Dependencies, Can't Meet Public Expectations

"The current Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), after everything it has done, cannot meet the high public expectations because it has repeatedly demonstrated that it is subject to political conjuncture and is woven by dependencies," President Rumen Radev was quoted by his Press Secretariat as telling journalists on Sunday in response to a question about the only nomination in the election procedure for the next prosecutor general.

There are high public expectations that the new prosecutor general will restore the sense of justice, and in this important mission they [the prosecutor general] should enjoy high public trust, which in turn requires their legitimate election to [to the post], the President stressed, adding that the SJC has demonstrated this with its latest decision to nominate only one candidate for the post of prosecutor general. The head of State pointed out that the current and future MPs should be clearly aware that the timely election of the members of these important bodies, such as the SJC, is not a matter of desire or ability, but is their constitutional duty. "This should be done as soon as possible so that we do not fall into the situation we are currently in," Rumen Radev stressed. 

The nomination of Borislav Sarafov, the acting Prosecutor General and only candidate for a full tenure as this country’s top prosecutor, drew clashing reactions among the political forces earlier in the week. 

"Let the memory of the assemblage [referring the previous parliamentary majority between GERB-UDF, Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms] which decided to change the Constitution instead of enforcing it, serve as a lesson, as today we are reaping the poisonous fruits of this encroachment," the head of State further said. He added that the very procedure for electing the next prosecutor general, with just one candidate, poses a risk for the justice system and creates tension not only among the professional circles, but among the public, Radev added.

Asked about the course of the election campaign and the possibility of forming a regular cabinet after the elections, the head of State said that not only Bulgarian society, but also the political parties themselves would benefit if they at least for a few days they put aside the issue of who is worse and open the big debate about how they will make Bulgaria safer, stronger, more successful and richer if they come to power.

Commenting on the remarks of North Macedonia's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski that he is ready to talk with the Bulgarian President about the inclusion of the Macedonian Bulgarians in that country's Constitution, as well as Skopje's EU membership, Rumen Radev recalled his repeatedly stated readiness for dialogue with North Macedonia. "But it is extremely important to distinguish between dialogue and negotiations," the Bulgarian head of State added.

"Negotiations between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia ended in July 2022, when the two countries signed the Bilateral Protocol under the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation," the President recalled.

"If we talk about dialogue, it should be conducted mainly between the Republic of North Macedonia and the European Commission," Radev said, adding that this should be based on the negotiating framework concerning the Republic of North Macedonia, adopted at the same time with the full unanimity of all Member States, as well as the Government in Skopje. "And it is a dialogue on the conditions that North Macedonia has to fulfil so that EU membership negotiations can start," the President further said. In his words, Bulgaria can help in this process so that Skopje meets the conditions more quickly and efficiently and starts confidently on its European path.

Rumen Radev also pointed out that he had explained all this to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and added that "we do not need any mediation here. Things are clear, it is just that the Republic of North Macedonia has to meet these requirements set by the EU," the Bulgarian head of State said.