Ex Bulgarian President Nominated for Constitution Court

Former Bulgarian President, Petar Stoyanov, has been nominated for constitutional judge by Bulgaria's right-wing Union of Democratic Forces party, UDF. Photo by BGNES

Former Bulgarian President, Petar Stoyanov, is the candidate for constitutional judge of Bulgaria's right-wing Union of Democratic Forces party, UDF.

The Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, however, reports that Stoyanov has asked to have three days to say if he would accept the nomination.

Some from UDF, like publicist Edvin Sugarev, say the ex President (1997 – 2002) would decline.

A seat in the Constitutional Court remained empty when last Thursday Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev walked out just as controversial judge Veneta Markovska was about to swear in.

Markovska's name had become implicated in allegations of trade in influence, which she was unable to dispel, but nevertheless chose not to resign, after being elected to the Constitutional Court by Parliament.

After Plevneliev's move, Friday Bulgarian MPs decided to launch a new procedure to choose another constitutional judge from the parliamentary quota.

Monday Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov unexpectedly informally invited UDF to nominate a replacement for Markovska on grounds the formation was the oldest right-wing party in Bulgaria and is a member of the European People's Party, EPP, similarly to his ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB.

The move is interpreted as an attempt from the PM to attract the allegiance of the Union and create further divisions in the feeble Blue Coalition between the UDF and Democrats for Strong Bulgaria, DSB.

UDF Chair, Emil Kabaivanov said the party will present a strong nomination, which will "clean the tarnished international image of Bulgaria."

DSB, led by former PM Ivan Kostov, already declared they would not nominate again the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Ekaterina Mihaylova, who failed against Markovska.

Former President Petar Stoyanov has a law degree, an extensive legal experience and enjoys international recognition and respect.

The other frontrunner was former Interior Minister, Yordan Sokolov.

Also on Tuesday, Veneta Markovska announced that she has decided to go on retirement and has filed her application.