Bulgaria's justice ministry insists the election of the new Supreme Judicial Council to be open, with magistrates free to vote as they choose, the ministry says. It has set up a confidential channel on its website where judges, prosecutors and investigators can report any attempt to pressure them or meddle with the vote.
"It matters to us that the new Supreme Judicial Council is elected with maximum transparency and a guaranteed free professional vote," said deputy justice minister Irena Borisova. The reporting channel, she said, is part of those guarantees.
Borisova outlined the plan at a meeting with Anette Kramme, parliamentary state secretary at Germany's federal ministry of justice and consumer protection. The talks covered judicial cooperation between Bulgaria and Germany, justice reform and digitalisation.
She briefed the German delegation on the justice section of the government's program and set out the cabinet's steps against corruption.
Parliament passed the rules for electing the new council in changes to the judicial system act on 26 June. The council's new members will now be chosen under this procedure.