site.btaBSP Challenges 2018 Budget Adoption Procedure

Sofia, December 21 (BTA) - MPs of BSP for Bulgaria filed an appeal against the procedure of the adoption of the 2018 state budget with the Constitutional Court, the press centre of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) said on Thursday.

According to BSP Deputy Floor Leader Zhelyo Boichev, there is a violation of Article 88 of the Bulgarian Constitution which makes it clear that every law should be adopted in two readings. The Socialists expect that the court would grant their appeal because the incumbents have rendered the debate and the budget adoption procedure meaningless. The incumbents argued that the proposals of the opposition disrupt the financial framework set by the Finance Minister, said Boichev. He was adamant that Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic and the Bulgarian parliament is vested with powers to make proposals and amend the budget.

MP Filip Popov recalled that the issue occurred in connection with Left MP Vassil Antov's proposal to extend money for the St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral and for the Zographou Monastery on Mount Athos.

The incumbents violated the Constitution. It is totally unacceptable that they trench on the Bulgarians' religious faith as the question was about 1.13 million leva, Roumen Gechev commented.