site.btaParliament Terminates Current Procedure for Election of Prosecutor General

Parliament on Wednesday adopted conclusively amendments to the Judicial System Act to terminate the current procedure for the election of Prosecutor General. The only candidate for the post is Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov.

Procedures launched under Art. 173, Para. 1, which have not concluded by a presidential decree on appointment on the date of promulgation of this law, are terminated, the MPs decided. The provision was adopted unanimously with 232 votes in favour.

A magistrate cannot serve for more than six months as acting prosecutor-general, or head of the Supreme Court of Cassation and the Supreme Administrative Court, Parliament also decided.

In the event of early termination or expiry of the term of office of the Prosecutor General, the president of the Supreme Court of Cassation or the president of the Supreme Administrative Court, a magistrate will be appointed to temporarily discharge the respective functions for a period no longer than six months, regardless of any interruptions. This provision was adopted with 228 votes in favour, and two abstentions.

MPs rejected proposals that prevented an acting prosecutor general or heads of the Supreme Court of Cassation, and the Supreme Administrative Court from running for the post.

The amendments limited the number of deputies of the Prosecutor General to two and explicitly stated which of his powers he could assign to them.

Earlier on Wednesday Parliament decided that only members of the Supreme Judicial Council whose mandate has not expired can vote to elect the Prosecutor General, and the heads of the Supreme Court of Cassation and the Supreme Administrative Court.