An institutional deadlock and dysfunction in judicial governance has left Bulgaria without a legitimate Prosecutor General since October. The country also lacks a functioning mechanism to appoint one and no immediate path to resolve the impasse. The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC)--whose mandate expired in 2022 following repeated snap elections that prevented parliament from electing new members--remains in office. However, amendments to the Judicial System Act adopted in January 2025 barred an expired mandate SJC from electing a Prosecutor General and introduced a six month limit on interim appointments. In line with these changes, on 2 October the Supreme Court of Cassation ruled that the mandate of Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov had expired on 21 July and that he lacks legal authority. With the SJC unable to appoint a successor, Sarafov continues to serve de facto despite the Court’s ruling.  

Sources: Novinite, BTA, Radio Free Europe, BNT, Vefassungsblog, Supreme Court of Cassation, Supreme Judicial Council (1), Supreme Judicial Council (2), The Sofia Globe 

On 13 March, following a legal challenge to the October election that led to a recount and a four-month investigation, the Constitutional Court ruled that the election of 17 MPs from different parties was illegal due to voting irregularities, including forged votes. The ruling granted the pro-Russian Velichie party 10 seats, which had initially fallen short of the four per cent threshold to enter Parliament (by 20 votes). The leading GERB-UDF group lost three seats, dropping from 69 to 66. This has left the ruling coalition, which took office in January 2025, with a narrow majority of 121 seats (down from 126) in the 240-seat legislature. Women secured 51 seats (21.3 per cent), a decrease from the 64 seats (26.7 per cent) held in the previous mandate. The Court stated that earlier sabotage by the prosecutor’s office had delayed its decision. This sparked protests over election fraud, fueled by allegations that the Sofia Prosecution had hidden evidence of fraud and, together with the Central Election Commission, tried to prevent the recount. 

Sources: Svobodna Evropa, Central Election Commission, Euronews, Balkan Insight, Sofia Globe, Inter-Parliamentary Union, Bulgaria’s Constitutional Court, International IDEA 

Two rights organizations released a report containing evidence—including photos, geolocation data, and testimonies—alleging that the authorities ignored emergency calls and obstructed efforts to rescue three Egyptian teenage boys who later died of hypothermia near the Bulgarian-Turkish border. Civil society group members claim that, despite providing the GPS coordinates of the teenagers, authorities failed to assist them. Activists were reportedly blocked by border police from reaching the location and were only able to access the area the following day when they discovered the bodies at the same coordinates they had previously shared. The border police denied the allegations, stating that the alerts contained incorrect information and that the bodies were found in different locations than those initially reported. Bulgaria has faced scrutiny over violence and pushbacks before, but this case shows the failure to provide aid and obstruction of rescue efforts, despite rights groups' involvement. 

Sources: No Name Kitchen & Collettivo Rotte Balcaniche, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Human Rights Watch

On 12 December, the European Council confirmed Bulgaria’s full admission to the Schengen visa-free travel area, effective 1 January 2025, ending most border controls for intra-Schengen travel. This is expected to facilitate foreign travel for Bulgarian citizens and enhance travel, trade, and tourism. In March 2024, Bulgaria was partially admitted to the Schengen area when internal air and sea border controls were lifted. The European Commission first confirmed that Bulgaria had met the technical criteria for Schengen membership in 2011, but its accession was long opposed by Austria and the Netherlands. A 2023 EU fact-finding mission reconfirmed Bulgaria’s readiness for accession, and lauded significant progress in border management and cooperation, migration control, and security measures. The mission report also highlighted strong cooperation with neighbouring countries and with Frontex, Europol and other EU authorities, as well as anti-corruption measures within law enforcement.

Sources: Council of the EU (1), Council of the EU (1), European Commission, Dnevnik, Balkan Insight