The Commercial Law Lawyer will be the head of the CEC.

A new leader has been proposed for Bulgaria's Central Election Commission (ЦИК). The candidate, Georgi Horozov, is a legal expert specializing in commercial law and currently holds a position on the High Council of Advocates. He was nominated by the parliamentary group of "Progressive Bulgaria" (ПБ) as their choice for the head of the ЦИК. Horozov brings over 31 years of legal experience, including time spent as chief legal counsel for Sofia City’s privatization agency and work in industrial property rights. His academic credentials include a master’s degree in law from Sofia University and a doctorate from its Law Faculty.

The selection process involves consultations between the president and political parties to determine the composition of the ЦИК. President Ilia Yotova convened meetings with party representatives earlier this week to hear their nominations. The commission will consist of seven members from "Progressive Bulgaria," each selected based on their contributions to enhancing legality and improving the electoral process. Most of these nominees are lawyers with extensive backgrounds in law and public administration.

Among the candidates proposed by "Progressive Bulgaria" are Zinaida Zlatanova, a former vice-premier under the "Oresharshi" cabinet and ex-minister of justice, who has returned to active politics after being sidelined since 2014. Another notable nominee is Dessislava Abrasheva, a senior expert at the National Council for the Fight Against Corruption (КФН), who previously ran as a candidate for parliament with GERB. Also included are experts such as Jordan Vasilev, a specialist in cyber security, and Ivan Kurchev, who is completing his doctoral studies on election administration in Bulgaria.

In addition to these names, two Plovdiv-based individuals with long-standing experience in elections have been proposed. These include Lazarina Bonova and Stoyanka Balova, both affiliated with the Bulgarian Socialist Party (БСП). Meanwhile, the GERB faction has also submitted four former deputies who will now serve on the ЦИК. Among them is Yordanka Gancheva, who will take on the role of secretary—a post traditionally held by the DPS party for more than 15 years. This shift has caused some controversy, as DPS had sought the position but lost due to a lottery system used to distribute seats among parties.

The distribution of seats within the ЦИК has sparked debate, particularly regarding the allocation of additional quotas using the Hare-Niemeyer method. Both "Progressive Bulgaria" and the Democratic Bulgaria (ДБ) factions have expressed concerns about the fairness of the seat distribution. As a result, they plan to challenge the decision before the Constitutional Court, requiring 48 signatures to proceed. Currently, they have gathered 37, indicating that further support is needed to initiate formal proceedings.

The nomination of Georgi Horozov marks a significant change in leadership for the ЦИК, which plays a crucial role in overseeing all national elections. With his extensive legal background and involvement in high-level legal advisory roles, Horozov is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the commission. However, the broader implications of the new composition remain uncertain, especially given the potential legal challenges that could arise from disputes over representation and seat allocations.

As the final decisions are made, the focus will likely shift toward ensuring transparency and legitimacy in the upcoming electoral processes. The involvement of experienced legal professionals and former politicians suggests a commitment to maintaining the integrity of the electoral system. Nevertheless, ongoing discussions around the fairness of the ЦИК's composition highlight the need for continued scrutiny and dialogue among political stakeholders.