President: Current Supreme Judicial Council Lacks Legitimacy to Elect Bulgaria's Prosecutor General

Yoana Vodenicharova

President Rumen Radev speaking to reporters in Sofia, October 16, 2024 (BTA Photo/Milena Stoykova)

Sofia,

16.10.2024 11:13

(BTA)

Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, President Rumen Radev said that the current Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) lacks legitimacy to elect Bulgaria’s next Prosecutor General. The head of State attended a wreath laying ceremony marking Aviation and Air Force Day.

"I will not even comment on its expired term. All its actions so far have not inspired confidence, neither within professional circles nor in society. That is why I clearly stated that this tension will persist, even in society" Radev said, adding that the situation is unfolding as expected.

Asked whether he might refuse to decree the appointment of the Prosecutor General, the President said that there is still time.

A protest was staged in Sofia on Tuesday evening, with demonstrators demanding that the procedure for the election of a new prosecutor general be terminated.

On October 10, acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov was nominated for election to the post as the only candidate at the last of four meetings of the Plenum of the Supreme Judicial Council at which candidates could be named.

Sarafov has been serving as acting Prosecutor General since June 16, 2023, when the SJC voted his predecessor, Ivan Geshev, out of office for undermining the prestige of the judiciary.

/YV/