The public defender institution has launched an open selection procedure for a new deputy, with all stages being accessible to the general public. Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva is organizing a public hearing of the nominated candidates, which will be broadcast live on the internet.
Official information reveals that by the deadline of August 6, 2025, three candidacies have been deposited. Among them are Maria Filipova, nominated by the Bulgarian National Association "Active Consumers", Marina Kisyova de Heus from the "Ekaterina Karavelova" Foundation, and Denitsa Dimitrova, proposed by the National Network for Children.
The procedure follows strictly regulated parliamentary rules, adopted on July 25 of the current year. According to them, Delcheva must submit the selected deputy ombudsman candidate directly to the National Assembly.
Velislava Delcheva herself was confirmed as ombudsman on July 18, 2025, by the deputies. Upcoming steps include presenting the approved candidate to the Commission for Direct Citizen Participation, followed by a vote in the plenary hall.
Transparency of the entire process is a leading principle, with each stage being publicly accessible through online broadcast on the official website and YouTube channel of the institution.