Bulgaria Judicial Council Set to Re-Start Appointment Process

Justice Minister, Margarita Popova, said that the VSS members hold the responsibility for the reinstatement of magistrates next Thursday. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Members of Bulgaria’s Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) have unanimously cancelled their decision to suspend appointments to the judiciary after 31 magistrates were announced to have been involved in the ‘Krasio’ corruption scandal.

At the VSS meeting Thursday the members voted to in favor of canceling their earlier decision to suspend judicial appointments. The VSS Ethics Committee Chairman, Tsoni Tsonev had earlier said that the VSS could now continue its appointment procedure.

Justice Minister, Margarita Popova, said that the VSS members hold the responsibility for the reinstatement of magistrates next Thursday. She added that “not everything in this case is clear and there is something to work on.”

Earlier Thursday Tsonev announced Thursday that another 13 magistrates’ names had been added to the previous list of 18 who had been in contact with ‘Krasio’. All of the names are set to be released by Chief Prosecutor Boris Velchev.

At the end of October it became clear that ‘Krasio’ was a ‘piggy bank’ and not an influential lobbyist. He is alleged tot have offered magistrates to secure their appointment to high ranking positions through the vote of the VSS in exchange for EUR 200 000 in cash.

The scandal has so far triggered heated arguments and several resignations after the Chief Prosecutor earlier revealed the names of 13 magistrates and prosecutors, whose phone logs showed they have been in touch with Georgiev.

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