Lawyers protested against the SJC and Sarafov

Lawyers protested in front of the Court House in Sofia against the procedure for the election of the Prosecutor General, organized by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) , which according to them is illegitimate . There were similar demonstrations in front of other court chambers in the country. The protest coincides with the European Lawyer’s Day, whose motto this year is „ Independent lawyers – stronger democracies “.

The only candidate for the position of Prosecutor General is Borislav Sarafov , who has been acting in this role for over a year following the dismissal of Ivan Geshev . Last week, all bar associations in the country called on Sarafov to withdraw from the procedure, which they believe is predetermined and lacks legitimacy, potentially undermining the authority of the prosecution and the judicial system .

The address was adopted by the Sofia Bar Council and supported by the other colleges. The Plovdiv Bar Association was the first to oppose the election. The Union of Judges also came out with a position against, while the Chamber of Investigators believes that there are no obstacles for the SJC to conduct the election and that Sarafov is a suitable candidate .

The lawyers reminded that despite calls from the public and professional organizations to halt the procedure, the Supreme Judicial Council nominated Sarafov. According to them, putting forward a candidacy without professional authority and public trust creates a sense of a predetermined election . They pointed to the election and dismissal of the last Prosecutor General as indicative of the negative consequences arising from the lack of transparency and public scrutiny in such procedures.

The lawyers expressed doubts about the election, stressing that the independence of the SJC is questionable, especially given the fact that the Council’s mandate has expired .

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