Bulgarian Judiciary Demand Full Report of 'Non-existent' Bonus Cash

The Union of Judges in Bulgaria has demanded a full, transparent report from Finance Minister Simeon Djankov (pictured) as to where the BGN 24 M allocated as bonuses has disappeared. Photo by BGNES

The Union of Judges in Bulgaria has asked Simeon Djankov, the Finance Minister, to provide a fully transparent report on how the money that was to be paid as bonuses to the judiciary has been spent.

In an open letter to Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, all Ministers and the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria, the organization has declared that, in recent months, representatives of the executive power had committed "yet more attempts for unacceptable encroachment on the independence of the judicial system".

The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) had decided in mid-December that the system would distribute BGN 24 M as a 13th monthly salary on the last working day before Christmas.

However, the Finance Ministry had not transferred the money. Instead, Djankov had met with members of the council and explained to them that, although on paper the money had been saved, there was no real cash available.

In their letter, the magistrates did not insist on the payments, but rather that Djankov should justify his actions by a full report on the appropriate implementation of the budget.

"General findings that are not based on specific facts and financial indicators create fictitious grounds for a legal separation of powers, and provoke a dangerous confrontation between magistrates and other members of society, who knew beforehand that they would not receive bonuses."

The document continued: "We understand that the state is in a financial crisis that may require special treatment, and that an objective need exists to update the budget in so far as the size of the annual deficit is defined at the end of the year.

"We understand also that the expenditure for the maintenance of the state, including the judiciary power, must comply with revenues. But with the scarce information provided by Minister, it is not clear what the reasons were for a real lack of funds in the budget of the judiciary power," wrote the judges to the Prime Minister.

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