Protest Called in Sofia over Bulgaria's 'Failed' Judicial Reform

A new protest in support of the judicial reform backed by former Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov is due in Bulgaria's capital Sofia this evening.

This will be the third demonstration in a row after Ivanov stepped down on Wednesday, amid disagreement over changes to his reform proposals approved by Parliament on the same day.

Rallies supporting judicial reform normally begin in front of the National Assembly, then moving to nearby Orlov Most ("Eagles' Bridge") square.

Ivanov believes the allocation of quotas for prosecutors within the judiciary's governing body, the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS), poses a challenge to the reform, giving more weight to the country's Chief Prosecutor.

In Ivanov's words, Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov is holding the country in a tight grip, and every major step for the government is coordinated with him.

For their part, organizers of the protest, which is said to have begun spontaneously on Wednesday, accuse lawmakers of failing to show commitment to ending "heavy dependencies on the oligarchy" and "supporting the dependence of courts on the prosecution".

They also demand the resignation of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and a move toward "decentralization" of the prosecuting authority, as part of a wider effort to make sure the judiciary is heading for independence.

Separately, the biggest professional organization on judges is to hold what it calls an extraordinary session in front of Sofia Courthouse (where the Sofia City Court is also based, along with the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office).

Most of the other points of the judicial reform were passed by Bulgaria's Parliament on Wednesday, including some amendments to the Constitution.