Bulgaria amended its constitution today in line with European Union recommendations aimed at shoring up the new EU member's slow and graft-prone courts and avoiding sanctions from Brussels.
In a third and final vote, 192 of 240 deputies backed amendments to end full immunity held by judges, prosecutors and investigators and establish an inspectorate elected by parliament to monitor the judiciary.
The EU Commission has warned Sofia to strengthen its courts and put criminals and corrupt officials behind bars or see its judicial system quarantined from the rest of the bloc.
"The fourth amendment of the constitution addresses Bulgaria's key challenge - to ensure its smooth functioning in the European Union," Ljutvi Mestan, a senior member of the junior ruling ethnic-Turkish party told the chamber.
The government says the changes should boost the accountability and effectiveness of the Balkan state's magistrates who analysts have blamed for the climate of impunity for organised crime bosses and corrupt politicians.
The EU executive said the changes were an important step. "This amendment will help to improve the judiciary system," Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini said in a statement.
Bulgaria's right-side opposition slammed the changes saying that the new monitoring body would not be effective, because its members would be chosen by the parliament and would only open the way for more political meddling.
Political analysts were also sceptical, saying Sofia still needed to demonstrate genuine political will to replace the powerful and corrupt magistrates.
"Any monitoring is better than nothing, but in reality it would not solve the problem. The only way to shore up the courts is to get rid of the upper crust of magistrates," said Andrei Raichev, political analyst with Gallup International.
The changes in the constitution are Bulgaria's second attempt to allay Brussels' concerns and show it is ready to impose strict rule of law.