Bulgarian justice minister resigns over failed reforms

(SOFIA) - Bulgaria's Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov resigned on Wednesday, accusing lawmakers of hampering his efforts to overhaul a judiciary that has come in for EU criticism for being slow, inefficient and corrupt.

Ivanov announced his resignation in parliament following a key vote on legal reforms that he had put forward, saying MPs had watered down the texts of his proposals, thereby largely preserving the current status quo.

"I will no longer exercise the powers of justice minister," he told the parliament.

"(The vote) proved that the independence of the judiciary is not appreciated enough," said Ivanov, whose small right-wing Reformist Bloc sits in an uneasy coalition with the ruling conservative party of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

Borisov's office confirmed his resignation had been accepted.

As part of his reform drive, Ivanov had sought to split the Supreme Judicial Council that is responsible for all legal appointments.

He also wanted to increase the accountability of the chief prosecutor, opening for the first time the possibility of recalling him before the end of his term.