Bulgaria Interior Embarks on Detente Course towards Judiciary

Bulgaria's Interior Minister Tsvetanov is set to meet the country's chief judges on Thursday in what seems to be the start of a conciliation approach on his part, Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria’s top magistrates should have access to information gathered by the intelligence services, according to Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov.

Tsvetanov spoke at a conference in Sofia dedicated to combating corruption. He described intelligence information as a very powerful tool that the Supreme Judicial Council must consider when appointing new judges.

“When a member of the Supreme Judicial Council votes for a new appointment, they act upon their convictions. However, intelligence data can help them with their decision,” Tsvetanov explained.

For the first time in months, the Interior Minister did not criticize the judicial system but took a more conciliatory approach. Since January 2010, he and senior judges have been tangled in arguments and mutual accusations as to who is to blame for the problems regarding combating corruption and organized crime in the country.

“There are a lot of things to be shared, and few things to argue about. We have got to manage to tell each other a lot of things, and to start a constructive and healing dialogue,” the Minister stated.

On Monday, Tsvetanov announced that he is finally going to attend a Supreme Judicial Council meeting on Thursday in order to discuss his differences with the country’s top judges.

During Tuesday’s conference, the Interior Minister reiterated the promise of PM Boyko Borisov that the Interior will not be taking over the Prosecutor’s Office, and that the latter would remain an independent institution.

“There have been insinuations that the Interior Ministry wants to make the prosecution part of the executive but it is going to remain where it is today. The fact that the Ministry and Prosecutor’s Office enjoy a really great cooperation speaks about our will to combat organized crime,” Tsvetanov remarked.

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