The parliament's legal affairs committee is hearing the 20 candidates for the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) under the parliamentary quota. It follows a schedule it set itself in advance. The hearings run from 2 to 6 November.

On Monday, before the committee met, MP Raya Nazaryan told reporters that GERB-SDS could back candidates from both the ruling parties and the opposition.

The previous development: GERB could back Supreme Judicial Council candidates from both the ruling parties and the opposition

Four candidates for the Judges' Chamber were heard first: Emil Dechev, Evgeni Staykov, Vasil Pandov and Aneta Antonova.

Thirteen candidates are cleared to run for this chamber: Aneta Antonova, Vasil Pandov, Evgeni Staykov, Emil Dechev, Ivan Ranchev, Kalin Batalski, Mihail Malchev, Petyo Slavov, Svetozar Georgiev, Silvia Tsanova, Tanya Radulovska, Tsveta Rangelova and Tsvetko Lazarov.

Eight people are running for the Prosecutors' Chamber: Andrey Yankulov, Veselin Vuchkov, Emil Dechev, Ekaterina Getova, Ivan Kalibatsev, Krasimir Komsalov, Milena Karagyozova and Stefan Milev. Dechev is on both lists.

The new SJC is formed from four quotas: parliament, judges, prosecutors and investigators. The prosecutors already have their representatives, chosen by their general assembly in two rounds of voting. The investigators have yet to hear their candidates and pick a representative.

The general assembly of judges heard its candidates on 30 October, and its vote is due on 7 October.