Prosecutors Fail to Select Supreme Judicial Council Representatives in First Round Despite Record Turnout
Bulgarian prosecutors failed to elect any of their four representatives to the Supreme Judicial Council during the first round of voting on Saturday, mediapool.bg reported. Voting figures released after midnight showed a record-high turnout of 87% among the 1,567 prosecutors eligible to cast ballots, according to mediapool.bg. Plamen Petkov, a prosecutor from the Sofia District Prosecution Office who previously testified about Martin Bojanov visiting a prosecution Christmas party, gathered the highest vote count at 479, mediapool.bg reported. Rebel prosecutor Ivaylo Iliev followed in second place with 400 votes, according to mediapool.bg.
Voting Rules and Supervision Mechanics for the Prosecutorial Quota
The election features 25 candidates competing for four seats allocated to the prosecutorial quota, mediapool.bg reported. BTA noted that the process utilizes paper ballots across 29 designated polling sections in the country, matching the number and location of district courts. The entire opening of ballot boxes, vote counting, and protocol drafting occurs under video recording and live streaming on the internet sites of the Supreme Judicial Council and BTA, BTA reported. To secure a valid election, turnout must exceed 50%, mediapool.bg reported. A second voting day opens Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., where the threshold drops to 33%, according to mediapool.bg.
Broader Context and Previous Attempts to Shape the Judicial Body
The ninth Supreme Judicial Council election arrives while the prosecution office operates without a titular chief, a vacancy persisting since Ivan Geshev was dismissed in June 2023, according to Novini SEGA. Novini SEGA reported that during candidate hearings the prior week, serious criticisms were directed at prosecution leadership and the Supreme Judicial Council, with names like Petio Petrov-Euroto and the “Eight Dwarfs” network invoked. The newly formed council ultimately holds the responsibility of selecting the next general prosecutor, Novini SEGA reported. Similar attempts to seat a new council in 2022 ended without success, while the currently acting council was elected back in 2017, Novini SEGA reported.
Candidates Outline Distinct Management Visions
Candidates outlined distinct management visions during their professional presentations. Йовита Григорова praised a fellow candidate as an ethical professional dedicated to defending prosecutorial dignity, BNT Новини reported. Георги Чинев advocated for a philosophy of management focused on transparency, objectivity, and verifiable results, BNT Новини reported.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Prosecutorial Council Vote
How many candidates are running for the prosecutorial quota?
A total of 25 candidates compete for the four available positions allocated to the prosecutorial quota, according to mediapool.bg.
What happens if Sunday’s runoff also fails to reach the required threshold?
The election is considered valid on Sunday if at least 33% of eligible prosecutors cast ballots, and candidates who receive the most valid votes are selected, mediapool.bg reported.
When do judges and investigators hold their respective council elections?
Judges vote on November 7, and investigators cast their ballots on November 21, according to Novini SEGA.