site.btaCounter-corruption Combat and Relations among the State Institutions in President Radev's BNT Interview

Sofia, October 13 (BTA) - In a Bulgarian National Television (BNT) interview on Thursday, President Rumen Radev focused on the counter-corruption combat and the relations among the state institutions. The interview was recorded by BNT ahead of the President's departure Thursday for Azerbaijan on an official visit.

"Don't expect that Azeri gas will start flowing [towards Bulgaria] right after the visit but maintaining good political contacts is a pre-condition for having the desired economic relations," said the President.

He was asked to comment a meeting of the Consultative Council on National Security (CCNS) which was held earlier in the week with a focus on the counter-corruption efforts but was cut short for lack of quorum as some CCNS members left early to attend to international arrangements and others were absent for the same reason.

The President said that leaving early a forum where you are required to attend by law, is a telltale thing to do. "I am not interested in the excuses: they are unimportant for me because what matters is that the law must be observed. Also, the importance of the issue [of corruption], to which Bulgarian people are so sensitive, further strengthens the suspicions among many analysts about a boycott. As the issue of corruption is a priority for our society, it must be a priority for our politicians as well, no matter their prior arrangements," said Radev.

Asked about the counter-corruption bills of the power-holders and the opposition, Radev said that his role is not to seek a mechanical compilation of the two but to find consensus on the principles and the guidelines and make sure they are in the best interest of society.

He said that the power-holders put an emphasis on prevention and passive forms of countering corruption in their bill. "The motives that go with the bill as it was moved to Parliament, clearly say that the state policy for countering corruption does not seek retribution but restoring justice in society. The forfeiture of unlawfully acquired assets restores justice and this is something that is unrelated to criminal prosecution," Radev pointed out.

He went on to argue that while forefeiture of unlawfully acquired assets is absolutely necessary, it is not enough for efficient counter-crime combat. "Staking on prevention is not a solution. Corruption is not a future problem. In order to be successful in fighting corruption, we need to have criminal prosecution of present and past corruption actions. We need active investigation and criminal prosecution," said Radev.

He reiterated his position that you cannot have the parliamentary majority appoint both the government and the leadership of the anti-corruption authority which is expected to fight high-level corruption.

Commenting a suggestion that the anti-corruption authority could be elected by Parliament and confirmed by the President, he said that there are various options that are about to be discussed in Parliament. "I want to say clearly that appointing the anti-corruption authority is not a goal per se for me. I would accept to make this appointment only if this body has clear investigative powers and capacity to exercise it."

The President said there is a tension among the state institutions "that is hard to conceal - even if the power-holders have a ban on mentioning the President's name" [which is the case with GERB under the Prime Minister's instructions]. "An entire [parliamentary ad hoc] committee [on the project for purchase of aircraft for the Bulgarian Air Force] was thrown against the President's Office, unscrupulous insinuations of lobbyism and corruption are being made. At the same time nobody dares make open accusations because they know they won't hold up in court. I appreciate the mediation efforts of the Prime Minister but obviously he is having a hard time outshouting his fellow party members," said Radev.

He believes that the attacks against him intensified when he said that there is no political will to fight high-level corruption and especially when a proposal was made to have the leadership of the future counter-corruption body appointed by the President. MORE/