Ex Bulgarian President Faces Uphill Struggle in Top Court Bid

Bulgaria's former president Petar Stoyanov can count on the support of the MPs from the ruling GERB party only. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Former Bulgarian President, Petar Stoyanov, who was nominated for constitutional judge by right-wing Union of Democratic Forces, will be boycotted by all opposition parties in parliament, including his own.

Stoyanov has asked to have three days to say if he would accept the nomination and is likely to turn it down, according to media reports.

Stoyanov will turn down the nomination not only because of his regular activities abroad, but also because of the stern opposition his candidature will face in parliament.

On Tuesday, shortly after UDF Chair, Emil Kabaivanov presented Stoyanov's nomination, it emerged that the former president can count on the support of the MPs from the ruling GERB party only.

The Socialist party and the ethnic Turks, as well as the die-hard right-wingers from Democrats for Strong Bulgaria, DSB said they will boycott the new procedure since, they claim, it has been rigged.

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.

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.

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