The National Assembly must change the procedures for electing regulators, lawyers discussed with the leadership of the “We Continue the Change” party (WCC). The discussion was part of a series of discussions under the title “Strong Bulgaria in a Strong Europe”.
Teodor Slavev, program director of the Bulgarian Institute for Legal Initiatives, emphasized that the lack of political will renders the procedures meaningless. He proposed uniform rules for selection, which should include a three-month deadline, an open application procedure and presentation of a management concept. Slavev also emphasized the need for a selection committee, formed on a parity basis and including external experts.
Judge Kalin Kalpakchiev, representative of the Union of Judges in Bulgaria, pointed out cases of substitute candidates, some of whom used artificial intelligence to write concepts. He emphasized the importance of integrity checks and a profile for the position with clear requirements for the candidates. Kalpakchiev also suggested presenting lists of consensus candidacies from the academic community to the MPs.
Stoyu Stoev, a member of WCC, expressed difficulties in finding quality candidates, with criticisms aimed at the short nomination deadlines. Before that, other important topics were also discussed, such as the quotas in the Supreme Judicial Council, the budget of the judiciary and the competitions.