site.btaNinova Will Back GERB's Constitutional Motion, But Her Party Will Not

Sofia, November 18 (BTA) - Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader Kornelia Ninova will sign the constitutional amendments proposed by the ruling GERB party to lift the statutory limitations for probing possible offences during the privatization process since the start of Bulgaria's transition to a free market economy in the 1990s. However, the BSP will vote against the amendments in the National Assembly.

The decision was made by the BSP National Council on Saturday.

Ninova herself asked to sign GERB's motion along with other sponsors from all parliamentary groups, and the BSP National Council approved her request. But the Council decided that the BSP will not support GERB's motion in the National Assembly.

With her decision to sign GERB's bill, Ninova wants to show that she is not afraid of possible actions against her in connection with future privatization probes. When GERB announced their motion, they said they expected Ninova to back it, or else she would be in a conflict-of-interest situation because she is a "major privatizer," having personally participated in the privatization of Technoimpex.

The BSP said they do not actually support GERB's constitutional amendment motion because it runs counter to the principle of the law-governed state, violates EU law, and cannot ensure real retribution for privatization wrongdoings. According to the Socialists, GERB's proposal is aimed to mislead the Bulgarian people and divert their attention from current corrupt practices.

The BSP National Council also decided that the party and its parliamentary group will open talks with other parties about the results of privatization, restitution, concession and public procurement procedures and the role of strong-arm groups during the transition period. After the talks, the Socialists will propose reviews of scandalous privatization deals, penalties for the people responsible for them, and changes to the country's economic policy.

The BSP will ask the National Assembly to interview the Economy Minister and the Prosecutor General about privatization revenues and the handling of legal cases related to privatization.

Before the National Council meeting, BSP deputy leader Stefan Danailov told journalists that Ninova should support the constitutional amendments because they are part of a campaign against her. "After so many years, we need to know the truth about privatization," Danailov said. "Besides, there may be a catch here. The other day I heard the Prime Minister say that [the privatization probes] will target mainly the administrators who signed the deals, rather than the people who are now the owners."