Investigators Begin Election for New Supreme Judicial Council Professional Quota Seat

Investigators gathered at the Technical University in Sofia on November 14, 2026, to begin the first assembly to elect a representative for the new Supreme Judicial Council professional quota. The proceedings aim to fill a single vacancy within the Prosecutor's College of the Supreme Judicial Council. The election process is part of a broader effort to form the new composition of the Supreme Judicial Council.

Assembly delays and quorum challenges

The assembly faced an initial delay of one hour and did not begin until 11:00 due to a lack of quorum during the first count. To reach a quorum, the assembly requires 228 delegates to be present. During the first count, officials recorded only 162 magistrates in attendance. At the start of the session, 175 investigators were registered as participants.

A total of 453 investigators are eligible to participate in this election process. Because the assembly requires two consecutive Saturdays to complete its work, the proceedings will continue on November 21, 2026. The Supreme Judicial Council website is broadcasting the assembly proceedings live to allow for public observation.

Candidates and electoral structure

Two candidates are competing for the single available seat in the Prosecutor's College of the Supreme Judicial Council. Petko Stefanov Petkov, an investigator at the National Investigation Service, and Boyko Yordanov Atanasov, an investigator in the Investigation Department of the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office, are the individuals running for the position. Marian Marinov, the Acting Chairperson of the National Investigation Service, stated that there are only two candidates because there is only one representative from the Investigation Department in the Prosecutor's College of the Supreme Judicial Council.

The election commission managing the process consists of five regular members and four substitute members. The electoral structure is organized into various sections, with each electoral section composed of three regular members and three substitute members chosen from the registered investigators.

Voting schedule and final results

The final election for the representative will take place on November 21, 2026. Voting will be conducted using paper ballots between 08:00 and 18:00. This timeline ensures that all eligible investigators have the opportunity to cast their votes for the professional quota seat.

Following the conclusion of the voting period, strict deadlines have been established for the reporting of results. Electoral sections must send their scanned protocols by 21:00. Once all protocols are received, the chair of the election commission is scheduled to announce the final results at 23:00.

Glossary

• Supreme Judicial Council — The Supreme Judicial Council is in charge of the self-administration and organisation of the Judiciary. It elects the Presidents of the Supreme Court of Cassation and of the Supreme Administrative Court, as well as the Prosecutor General, from among its members.
• quorum — A quorum is the minimum number of members required to be present for a vote to be valid. In the context of the assembly, reaching a quorum requires 228 delegates to be present.