Ex Bulgarian President Quits Top Court Bid, Crisis Deepens

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

Former Bulgarian right-wing President, Petar Stoyanov (1997 – 2002), has expectedly rejected his recent nomination for constitutional judge.

"Despite my efforts, it proved impossible to cancel some of my commitments to international institutions and accept my nomination for the Constitutional Court by the UDF. Thank you for your trust," reads the letter that Stoyanov sent to the leader of the right-wing party behind his candidature.

Stoyanov had asked to have three days to say if he would accept the nomination and was likely to turn it down, deepening the constitutional crisis.

Even though claiming to have declined the offer because of his regular activities abroad, Stoyanov knew he would face an uphill struggle in his bid because of stern opposition in parliament.

The Parliament voted Thursday to strike back one of its previous constitutional judge appointments from the two from its quota and to launch a replacement procedure.

A seat in the Constitutional Court remained empty on November 15, when 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 the right-wing Union of Democratic Forces, 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 was 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 DSB.

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