site.btaABV Object to Review of Antitrust Watchdog Election Procedure

ABV Object to Review of Antitrust Watchdog Election Procedure

Sofia, March 8 (BTA) - ABV object to a review of the procedure for election of a new composition of the Commission on Protection of Competition (CPC), the Party's Deputy Chairman Roumen Petkov commented at a news conference here on Tuesday.

On Monday, Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) leader Radan Kanev warned of a looming backstage deal for the new CPC composition. "Neither DSB nor the Reformist Bloc will make nominations in this vicious procedure," Kanev said.

Following this statement, Prime Minister and GERB leader Boyko Borissov Monday evening instructed the GERB Parliamentary Group to find a way to stay out of the CPC leadership and members election procedure and not to propose any nomination for CPC chairperson. The idea is to deter speculation that the future election is a deal between GERB, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF).

As Petkov put it, Borissov hinted that the overall procedure of CPC rules, criteria and techniques may be reconsidered. According to the ABV Deputy Chairman, if the PM and GERB are prone to yield to this type of racketeering, they become accomplices to the wrecking of statehood. "We are starting a bad practice. The term of office of the incumbent CPC has been extended by more than a year. One can't help asking oneself whether this is deliberate, so that they could do certain biddings and cater for certain political or economic interests," he commented.

MRF Co-floor Leader Chetin Kazak commented on Tuesday that the Prime Minister's position on the matter sends a confusing message and does not paint a good picture of the synchronization in the ruling majority, regarding the consistency of the actions taken and decisions adopted. "Ultimately, they do not give the public a sense of stable and predictable governance," Kazak observed.

As expected, GERB have nominated Rossen Zhelyazkov, a former chief secretary of the Council of Ministers in the first Borissov Cabinet, for CPC chairperson. The MRF have nominated former constitutional judge Plamen Kirov for CPC member. Kirov was expected to be a nomination of ABV because he chaired the Legal Council of President Georgi Purvanov, whose election and re-election was secured by the MRF votes. Another ABV nominee for CPC member is lawyer Nikolai Ilchev, now Deputy Chairman of the Veliko Turnovo Municipal Council.