September 13 (BTA) - Bulgaria's National Assembly Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee Monday voted, 11-0 with no abstentions, to approve on first reading draft amendments to the Judicial System Act, moved by Democratic Bulgaria, which would close down the specialized courts and prosecution offices.

Most parliamentary groups defined the vote as "symbolic" because the bill will not go through to the conclusive second reading, let alone be considered by the full house, because Parliament will be dissolved on September 16 ahead of early legislative polls scheduled for November 14.

This was the second attempt to abolish the specialized jurisdictions after similar revisions, also proposed by Democratic Bulgaria, were approved on first reading in the spring but again remained at the committee stage due to the dissolution of that legislature on May 12.