site.btaKiril Petkov Warns that Distraction Politics Threatens Judicial Reform, Sarafov's Election Looms

Co-chair of Continue the Change (CC) Kiril Petkov warned Tuesday that distraction policies threatens the judicial reform in Bulgaria and that the election of acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov for a full tenure as the country's top prosecutor is looming. "The biggest problems in politics often happen when the public is distracted," Petkov posted on Facebook. 

He said that while government negotiations are ongoing, the delay in selecting parliamentary committee members is hindering the passage of the Judicial System Act.

Petkov said that if the Legal Affairs Committee is not formed this week, the risk to the Judicial System Act will increase significantly. Borislav Sarafov might be appointed as Prosecutor General on January 16 next year, due to "insufficient time" between negotiations and holidays.

"Afterwards, someone would suggest a long process for choosing the Supreme Judicial Council, which will tackle the issue "at its core, not on a case-by-case basis", and this, amidst all the distractions, would allow Sarafov to stay on as Prosecutor General for the next seven years. Let's all keep an eye on the developments with the Legal Affairs Committee. When it will begin functioning, which party will lead it, and when it will review the law that could stop Sarafov," Petkov urged.

This is the latest development in a series of actions targeting members of the Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) coalition. On December 9, the Sofia Regional Prosecution Office requested Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov to initiate the process of stripping CC-DB MP Lena Borislavova of her immunity. On December 10, Sarafov submitted a request to the 51st National Assembly to lift the parliamentary immunity of CC Co-Chair Kiril Petkov, following a proposal from the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office related to an ongoing investigation. Additionally, on December 11, former aide to CC Co-Chair Assen Vassilev, Lachezar Stavrev, was detained.

The election for the Prosecutor General is scheduled for January 16, with Borislav Sarafov running unopposed. His nomination has triggered protest rallies and strong political opposition. Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) has announced plans to introduce a bill in Parliament to impose time limits on the tenure of an acting prosecutor general, aiming to prevent Sarafov's appointment for a full seven-year term. Other opponents of Sarafov's candidacy include the far-right Vazrazhdane party, the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), and President Rumen Radev.