PRESIDENT Georgi Purvanov this week urged changes to the laws regarding the judicial system after the approval of the amendments to the constitution.
In a speech during a conference on "The Judiciary - Realities and Prospects" held at the Sheraton Hotel in Sofia, Purvanov said that the new amendments to the constitution would make the judicial system more open and would provide it with the opportunity to rid itself of some of its members who smear its image.
Purvanov said he welcomed the proposed amendments and the fact that MPs had already supported them at first reading. According to him, however, the amendments themselves would not improve the work of the judicial system and would not make more efficient the fight against organised crime.
"I cannot accept the constant excuses for the bad results of the fight against crime that cite bad legislation, coming from those who have always been able to change it," Purvanov said.
He urged timely and efficient amendments to the laws, which would stabilise the legal regulations in the country.
At the same conference, US ambassador James Pardew called for the introduction of stricter accountability of members of the Bench, and changes to the legislation, which would guarantee the application of the amendments to the constitution.
He said the current constitution did not provide for accountability of magistrates.
Meanwhile, proposals by Interior Minister Georgi Petkanov for amendments to the part of the Penal Code covering the protection of classified information, sparked the wrath of the Bulgarian Media Coalition (BMC).
In a letter, the BMC appealed to MPs not to approve of the changes to the Penal Code regarding this matter in their current form.
The BMC harshly criticised the definitions of "state secret" and "national interests" in the proposals of Petkanov.
According to them, anyone who willingly or unwillingly disseminates classified information may face between two and 15 years in prison. At a news conference last week, Petkanov said that a journalist who unwillingly discloses classified information may spend two years in jail.
In a statement the BMC accused Petkanov of attempting to limit the freedom of speech and the right of the people to be informed.
According to the coalition, the practices in Bulgaria and elsewhere have shown that the term "classified information" has often been abused and used for covering up of irregularities, malpractices or illegal deeds.
In a speech during a conference on "The Judiciary - Realities and Prospects" held at the Sheraton Hotel in Sofia, Purvanov said that the new amendments to the constitution would make the judicial system more open and would provide it with the opportunity to rid itself of some of its members who smear its image.
Purvanov said he welcomed the proposed amendments and the fact that MPs had already supported them at first reading. According to him, however, the amendments themselves would not improve the work of the judicial system and would not make more efficient the fight against organised crime.
"I cannot accept the constant excuses for the bad results of the fight against crime that cite bad legislation, coming from those who have always been able to change it," Purvanov said.
He urged timely and efficient amendments to the laws, which would stabilise the legal regulations in the country.
At the same conference, US ambassador James Pardew called for the introduction of stricter accountability of members of the Bench, and changes to the legislation, which would guarantee the application of the amendments to the constitution.
He said the current constitution did not provide for accountability of magistrates.
Meanwhile, proposals by Interior Minister Georgi Petkanov for amendments to the part of the Penal Code covering the protection of classified information, sparked the wrath of the Bulgarian Media Coalition (BMC).
In a letter, the BMC appealed to MPs not to approve of the changes to the Penal Code regarding this matter in their current form.
The BMC harshly criticised the definitions of "state secret" and "national interests" in the proposals of Petkanov.
According to them, anyone who willingly or unwillingly disseminates classified information may face between two and 15 years in prison. At a news conference last week, Petkanov said that a journalist who unwillingly discloses classified information may spend two years in jail.
In a statement the BMC accused Petkanov of attempting to limit the freedom of speech and the right of the people to be informed.
According to the coalition, the practices in Bulgaria and elsewhere have shown that the term "classified information" has often been abused and used for covering up of irregularities, malpractices or illegal deeds.
