25 September 2003

:: NEWS ::

Bulgarian parliament adopts changes to the Constitution

2002 news

On 24 September the Bulgarian National Assembly passed changes to the Constitution connected with the immunity and unchangeability of magistrates. The changes provide restrictions in the immunity of judges, prosecutors, and investigators.

According to the adopted changes, judges, prosecutors and investigators will have immunity only during carrying out of their official duties. Magistrates cannot be indicted without a permission from the Supreme Judicial Council. The administrative staff in the judicial system, with the exception of the directors of the Supreme Administrative Court, the Supremem Court of Cassation and the Prosecutor General, will be employed for a term of firve years with the right to a second mandate. Magistrates will now be unchangeable after a minimumn of five years with a decision of the Supreme Judicial Council.

These changes mark the beginning of the reform in the Judiciary. President Parvanov stated that possible future changes are two types - connected with EU-membership and resulting from existing deficiencies in the Constitution. Lutvi Mestan, MP, from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, urged for the provision of the Ombudsman institution in the main law.

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