site.btaGERB to Initiate Constitutional Amendment on Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to Privatization-Related Offences

Sofia, November 13 (BTA) - GERB will propose amendments to the Constitution abolishing statutory limitations for privatization-related offences, National Assembly Legal Affairs Committee Chairman Danail Kirilov MP of GERB told a news conference here on Monday.

A new Paragraph (8) will be added in Article 31, stating that "statutory limitations shall not apply to the criminal prosecution and the implementation of a penal sanction for any serious offences committed in the course of, or in connection with, privatization in the period from 1992 to 2017." The final data is set at this year because there are some 20 unprivatized state-owned commercial corporations at present, and they are on the list of properties that may not be privatized.

Kirilov stressed that the idea is not to rescind privatization contracts but to punish the culprits for unprofitable transactions.

"GERB have already enlisted the backing of the United Patriots and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, and Volya has repeatedly declared support for such steps," the Legal Affairs Committee Chairman said.

GERB will be seeking the broadest possible support for the initiative, including from BSP for Bulgaria.

A motion to amend the Constitution can be initiated by at least 60 MPs (a quarter of the total), and its passage requires 180 votes (a three-quarters majority).