Reelected Bulgarian Chief Investigator Eyes Prosecutors Office

Reelected Bulgarian Chief Investigator, Boyko Naydenov. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Boyko Naydenov, the newly reelected head of the Bulgarian National Investigation Services, remains in the race for Chief Prosecutor.

In two statements since his reelection on Thursday, he did not confirm such option, but did not reject it either.

"If there is, at some point, an option and a judgment that I can run, of course I will run, but now the race is not even open and the candidates are not known," Naydenov said Friday, speaking in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio, BNR.

When asked on Thursday what qualities should the new Chief Prosecutor have, he replied: "We need an angel, but I doubt we can find him or her."

The Supreme Judicial Council, VSS, is expected to launch the procedure for electing the country's Chief Prosecutor in the next few days, but before doing so, they must prepare the election rules.

The deadline for the above is November 23, because under the law the procedure must be open no earlier than 6 months and no later than 3 months after the term of the Chief Prosecutor expires.

Chief Prosecutor, Boris Velchev, submitted his resignation Thursday before VSS in order to assume his new post as constitutional judge.

Two names have been circulating lately as top contestants to replace him - his Deputy, Galina Toneva, and the Chairman of the Plovdiv Regional Court, Sotir Tsatsarov, who is rumored to be well-liked by the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB.

Before BNR, Naydenov stated that for the moment he was going to focus on his second term as Chief Investigator. He explained he would work for removing investigators and prosecutors who are underperforming.

Velchev was nominated for constitutional judge by President, Rosen Plevneliev, on October 20, 2012, and must take the oath of office within one week after the October 31 appointment, thus the need to release him from his current post. However, his Chief Prosecutor's term is set to expire in February 2013.

Velchev's 7-year term in office as Chief Prosecutor began in 2006. He used to be the legal advisor of former left-wing President Georgi Parvanov.

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