[size=75:sgrwpgp2]Sofia echo 5 January 2010

BULGARIA FINANCE MINISTER: MAGISTRATES' SPENDING MUST RELY ON CONSCIENCE

Bulgaria’s Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, is leaving the decision about spending the judicial system State subsidy on the judiciary’s ethics.

The BGN 19 M were transferred from the Finance Ministry to the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) account on the day before the last 2009 work day in Bulgaria. The funds were slated by VSS for judiciary Christmas bonuses, however at the time of the transfer, the system for budget payments was already shut down for the holidays and the magistrates could not touch the money.

The judicial system has its own, independent budget, but a major part of it comes from a State subsidy, which can be reduced when there is a budget deficit.

The way the State subsidy is spent and what the money will be used for requires a special permission of the Finance Ministry. Last year the resources have been used for emergency repairs and social payments 15 times.

On Monday, Djankov said before the Bulgarian National Television BNT that the magistrates need to use their conscience to help them decide if they would use the money for bonuses or other things.

The Minister explained the delay with the administrative system that does not allow transfers when there are not sufficient funds and with using his right as head of the finances of the State to decide what can be spent in 2009 in order to comply with the fiscal policy voted by the Parliament.

Djankov further said he had obeyed the law and is not at all nervous, referring to the suit filed against him with the Supreme Administrative Court by over 500 magistrates and judicial system employees demanding that all money saved by the system in 2009 is transferred to them. The transfer was executed on December 29.



Emmmmmmmm this will be an interesting one to follow ? I wonder what will happen? do magistrates have a CONSCIENCE