| dc.description.abstract | This thesis aims to unpack the challenges of legal system reform in Bulgaria by exploring the heated contestations over the Prosecutor General´s role, powers and accountability. It aims to understand, firstly why this has become such a crucial political issue, and secondly, why it has not been possible to get effective reforms in place. In order to answer these questions, the thesis relies on interviews with key stakeholders within and outside the Bulgarian legal system; documents related to the reform process; existing literature on judicial politics in Bulgaria; and media reports on the ongoing debate and the implementation of the legal system reform, particularly with respect to enhancing the accountability of the Prosecutor General. Theoretically, the thesis draws on the literature on judicial independence and judicial reform. The Prosecutor General has emerged as a prominent figure and issue in Bulgarian politics, demonstrating the challenges of the Bulgarian legal system, and this study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and potential solutions to these concerns. The analysis reveals how the question of a legal system reform generally, and a reform of the Prosecutor General’s power and accountability in particular is interwoven in larger political issues, including Bulgaria’s relationship with the European Union (EU), the possibility of accessing the Schengen Agree, and possible financial sanctions from external actors. The analysis also shows how personal conflicts between the central actors in the judiciary, the legislature, and the executive branch, have hampered the reform process. | |
