Geshev sparks huge scandal with TV show of defiance
Chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev refused to quit at a televised briefing today, after dramatically tearing up his resignation speech.
GERB and DPS had requested his resignation last week, and subsequently members of the Supreme Judicial Council had started a procedure to oust him. This was a surprise because for many years DPS, GERB had defended Geshev against the backdrop of repeated calls for his dismissal by the WCC-DB coalition owing to his inaction over organized crime.
Geshev declared himself a victim of the political mafia and the oligarchy. He claimed he had had anonymous threats against himself and his family and said that GERB leader Boyko Borissov had tried to block court cases concerning corruption against himself.
He also called for the removal of Borislav Sarafov, head of the National Investigative Service and deputy of the chief prosecutor. Sarafov was the first person to cast doubt on Geshev's claim that his family had been involved in a recent purported assassination attempt.
The chief prosecutor also said that he received an offer a month ago to step down and become an ambassador in Israel or Turkey and said that Borissov had opposed the move.
Sarafov demands protection
In a briefing later today, the deputy of the chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev Borislav Sarafov requested the Supreme Judicial Council to remove Geshev as soon as possible.
He also stated that knowing Geshev as he did, he feared for his life. "I am asking the Minister of Justice Krum Zarkov to provide me physical security," said Sarafov, adding that he would not vacate his position.
First mandate handed out
President Rumen Radev today handed the first mandate to form a cabinet to Mariya Gabriel, who was nominated by GERB for the position of Prime Minister.
GERB's leader Boyko Borissov has urged the WCC-DB coalition to support Gabriel, currently a European commissioner. But for the moment the continued controversy over the Chief Prosecutor has been looming over negotiations.
Geshev sparks huge scandal with TV show of defiance
Chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev refused to quit at a televised briefing today, after dramatically tearing up his resignation speech.
