Lawyers take to the streets in defence of the rule of law

Lawyers in Sofia, Burgas, Ruse and other cities have come out to protest against what they say is an illegitimate procedure for the election of the Prosecutor General. The election process should be stopped and a new SJC should elect a reputable and politically independent person to this key position, the lawyers said. According to them, the current SJC does not have the moral authority to choose the head of the prosecutor's office for the next seven years, as its mandate has long expired. It is also unacceptable to have to choose from only one candidate for the post - the current acting Prosecutor General, Borislav Sarafov.

"We are here to say that this is not the way it should be," said the chairman of the Sofia Bar Association, Stefan Marchev, as quoted by the lex.bg website. Marchev was one of those who took part in a peaceful protest in front of the Sofia Court House in defence of the rule of law.