The new constitutional judges: What does the absence of the President from the oath taking ceremony tell us?

The parliamentary quota in the Constitutional Court has now been filled after Desislava Atanasova and Borislav Belazelkov were sworn in as constitutional judges. This happens two years after the term in office of the previous judges from the parliamentary quota had expired.

Desislava Atanasova and Borislav Belazelkov took the oath as constitutional judges on January 26.

Hours before the oath taking ceremony, the Presidency sent a message that President Rumen Radev would not attend because he does not tolerate "words that contradict deeds and ceremonies that replace principles."

"Taking an oath to uphold the Constitution amid serious suspicions of its violation is untenable," the head of state said on January 26.

A few days ago, Rumen Radev challenged the election of the new judges before the Constitutional Court and urged them not to take the oath until the court rules on the case.

President challenged the constitutionality of the election of two new Constitutional Court judges

The heads of the highest judicial instances in the country described the presence at the ceremony as a formal procedure that does not affect the actual composition of the Constitutional Court.

Political reactions after the swearing-in of the new Constitutional Court judges

"Attendance at this procedure is purely formal. This procedure does not in any way affect the factual composition, it is completed after the promulgation of the decision of the Parliament. It is the President’s personal judgment whether to attend or not. In view, of the challenge (of the election) - that is logical. Let us not forget, however, that two years ago there was a procedure in which Lozan Panov was not present and it took place," recalled Georgi Cholakov, president of the Supreme Administrative Court.

"Our participation here is fully representative and I guess for me and the other persons who are scheduled to participate, it is due to the respect for the institution. I deeply believe that institutions in Bulgaria should be respected. What is happening, in my view, is a way of improving the work of the institution. It is useful, but I personally cannot but give importance and respect to the Constitutional Court, which I believe is the body that upholds the rule of law," said Galina Zaharova, President of the Supreme Court of Cassation.