site.bta BSP, GERB Argue Academy of Sciences' Budget

BSP, GERB Argue Academy of  Sciences' Budget

Sofia, December 1 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) was very close to getting an increase of its state subsidy Thursday before it was conclusively voted down by a majority in Parliament. "The ruling GERB party committed a coup against Bulgarian science," BSP-Left Bulgaria deputy floor leader Roumen Gechev told journalists in Parliament after the rejection of the proposed increase.

Borislav Velikov (Reformist Bloc) and a group of MPs had proposed that BAS' budget be upped by 10 million leva over and above an increase by 5 million leva proposed by the cabinet. The vote was retaken several times and after the MPs of BSP-Left Bulgaria, Ataka and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms walked out, GERB voted down the subsidy increase.

GERB argued that in science it is not structures that are financed but activities, and that a special operational programme provides 560 million leva for the purpose.

Gechev stated that GERB voted against the much needed extra 10 million leva which would have ensured the Academy's normal functioning, including the doctoral programmes of 600 Bulgarians.

He added that the third vote taken on the State Budget Act provisions concerning BAS' financing was in breach of Parliament's rules of procedure and the Constitution. Gechev also argued that BAS was not listed among the beneficiaries of the European Commission's programmes and would not be able to apply for funding directly. As a result, BAS will be left with 78 million leva as in 2016.

Valeri Zhablyanov (BSP-Left Bulgaria) said he was left with the impression that GERB voted under pressure because most of its MPs realize that BAS does need larger financing.

Education Committee Chairperson Milena Damyanova (GERB) said that BAS was allocated 5 million leva more for 2017 than this year. As a whole, the 2017 spending on science is larger than this year's by 37 million leva , Damyanova told a briefing in Parliament after the State Budget Act was adopted.

In 2016, BAS received 1,500,000 leva for young scientists. However, interim reports show that 45 per cent of this funding did not go to young scientists but to their older leaders, said Damyanova.

Budget Committee Chairperson Menda Stoyanova (GERB) said the need for reform at BAS had long been discussed. There are many institutes which should be closed down, and they are the ones that want a handout from the budget to survive, she said. Given how the increase was proposed, there was no guarantee that the money would be available to young scientists, said Stoyanova.

At a November protest rally in Sofia representatives of BAS, including its then President Stefan Vodenicharov, claimed that the 5 million leva over and above the budget for 2016 would be paid in salaries to the scientists alone and that nothing would be left for other staff.