14.09.2023
Bulgaria looks forward to the Venice Commission’s feedback about the amendments to the Constitution submitted to the National Assembly in early October this year. These proposed amendments to the Constitution were the agenda of today’s discussion between Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov and members of the European Commission for Democracy through Law as is the official name of the advisory body of the Council of Europe (CoE).
The amendments drafted to change the structure and the composition of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) and the SJC Inspectorate are of particular importance for Bulgaria. They respond to the European Commission’s recommendations of 5 July this year for the implementation of the rule of law in Bulgaria and are required by the Netherlands for Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen Area.
“The amendments to the Constitution seek to ease political interferences into the Judiciary,” the Prime Minister emphasized. Also, he noted that citizens have no confidence in the Bulgarian administration of justice as it moves at a slow pace and the cases of corruption and abuse of power go unpunished.
The Venice Commission representatives at the meeting showed interest in the reform of the status of the caretaker government, the possibilities to appoint such a government and the powers to be vested in it.
The European Commission for Democracy through Law provides legal advice to the CoE member states on bills or laws enacted in the area of democratic institutions and fundamental rights, constitutional law and the judiciary, elections, referendums and political parties.
