Leaders of ABV, GERB Agree on Including Part of  Constitutional Changes in Declaration

Sofia, July 20 (BTA) - Part of the agreed draft changes in the Constitution will be included in a declaration or a decision of the National Assembly to be adopted on Thursday. Then the changes will be voted on first reading Friday. An agreement to this effect was reached by ABV leader Georgi Purvanov and Prime Minister and GERB leader Boyko Borissov after a meeting between the two in Parliament that lasted for about an hour and a half on Monday.

The meeting was held in an effort to enlist broad support from the parliamentary political forces for the Cabinet-proposed constitutional amendments aimed at reforming the judiciary.

Borissov did not step back from the position that the draft should be put to the vote already this week rather than being withdrawn. "I think that we can reach consensus on the strengthening of the role of the Inspectorate of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), the split of SJC into two colleges - judicial and prosecutor and direct suffrage of judges and prosecutors," Borissov told journalists. If adopted, these proposals, described by the Prime Minister as "Plan B", will give a strong impetus to career development and selection through competition.

"I will be grateful, if on Friday all parliamentary forces or part of them find the necessary consensus on the three main points. This will be a good sign and a step in the right direction both in regards to the Bulgarian society and our partners from Brussels in relation to the reports," Borissov said.

"I see an aspiration towards reduction of the proposed constitutional changes by two thirds. Even if we agree on a constitutional reform, it will be rather as a sign towards Brussels for the political will of the Bulgarian MPs and institutions," ABV leader Purvanov commented on his part. He voiced hope that the National Assembly will adopt a declaration or a decision on Thursday with the broadest possible support and this document should include the issues, that could be supported and in regards to which there is proximity of positions. However, Purvanov believes that it would be better to withdraw the draft and submit a new one that would enjoy broader support and be adopted faster than the current one. ABV will take a final decision after a meeting of its political bodies.

Purvanov allegedly saw the proposals of the Prime Minister as readiness to scrap a number of points in the draft changes that have been challenged by ABV. The party is in favour of strengthening of the role of the Inspectorate and direct suffrage of the magistrates but is against the split of the colleges. ABV is also in favour of a strong plenum of SJC.

The Monday meeting, Purvanov said further, is a sign that the judicial reform - in the manner in which it was launched and its implementation attempted - is in a stalemate. In his opinion there is a weak expert potential and expressly arrogant behaviour on the part the sponsors, the Reformist Bloc.

Purvanov stressed, however, that there is progress in a wise direction.

According to Borissov, if the constitutional changes fail on Friday, the reaction will be that the judicial reform has failed, the Minister has failed and the reformist majority has failed. "Do we wish this to happen," he asked. In his opinion, consensus can be found on the three key points and there is no better option.

On Tuesday and Wednesday the Prime Minister will hold consultations with the Movement for Rights and Freedoms and the Bulgarian Socialist Party.