Ivan Kostov: Government's Toughest Corruption Fights Will Be Internal

Former Prime Minister Ivan Kostov has voiced strong skepticism regarding the current Bulgarian government's commitment to genuine judicial reform. In a pointed commentary, Kostov argues that the proposed amendments to the Judicial System Act, put forth by the "We Continue the Change" (PP) party, demonstrate a clear reluctance to undertake the deep-seated cleansing and restructuring the judiciary desperately needs.

Kostov, a figurehead of Bulgaria's transition to democracy, implies that the ruling coalition is unwilling to confront the entrenched corruption within its own ranks. He suggests that the true fight against corruption will not be against external forces but will erupt from within the governing parties themselves. This internal conflict, he posits, will be the most challenging aspect of any reform effort, highlighting a potential lack of political will and a deep-seated resistance to change.

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If one judges by the Law on Amendments and Additions to the Law on the Judicial System, submitted by "We Continue the Change", the new rulers are not ready to carry out a full cleansing and reform of the judicial system.

The former premier's assessment carries significant weight, given his experience navigating Bulgaria's complex political landscape. His remarks serve as a stark warning to the public and international observers alike: any reforms initiated under the current administration may fall short of expectations, failing to address the systemic issues that have plagued the Bulgarian judicial system for years. The path forward, according to Kostov, is fraught with internal political battles rather than decisive action against corruption.

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The most difficult battles of the rulers with corruption will be among themselves.