site.btaInterior Ministry Chief Secretary Lazarov, SANS Chair Pisanchev Resign

Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Lazarov,  SANS Chair Pisanchev Resign


Sofia, March 6 (BTA) - Interior Ministry Chief Secretary
Svetoslav Lazarov and the State Agency for National Security
(SANS) Chairman Vladimir Pisanchev have tendered their
resignations, sources from the Council of Ministers told BTA on
Friday. Both Lazarov and Pisanchev have handed their
resignations to Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.

The Prime Minister demanded their resignations in Parliament on
Thursday, after nominating Roumyana Buchvarova as the new
interior minister. Buchvarova's nomination came following the
fact that Interior Minister Vesselin Vouchkov resigned on
Wednesday, after his proposal to replace the Chief Secretary of
the Interior  Ministry was apparently rejected by Prime Minister
 Boyko Borissov.

Speaking to journalists later in the day, Borissov said that he
will accept Lazarov's resignation. He explained, however, that
first he expects the detention of the murderer of a university
student, killed recently in the Central city of Veliko Turnovo,
after which he will accept the resignation. This, according to
Borissov, will happen by noon tomorrow at the latest.

Borissov is scheduled to meet with the head of SANS later on
Friday. He said that he will accept Pisanchev's resignation,
after which he will decide who will head the Agency, but after
it is discussed with GERB's coalition partners.

The Prime Minister said that the new interior minister will
decide who the next chief secretary will be. He explained that
the changes in the Interior Ministry will be adopted officially
on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers and then Parliament.

Borissov noted that the portfolios of his deputies Buchvarova
and Meglena Kuneva will not change, with the exception that
Buchvarova will also head the Interior Ministry. Buchvarova is
Deputy Prime Minister for Coalition Policy and Public
Administration and Kuneva is Deputy Prime Minister for European
Policy and Institutional Affairs.

The Prime Minister said that had wanted all checks to be
completed before any changes were made to the special services,
so that it could be determined if Pisanchev and Lazarov were at
fault. He explained that the Chairman of the State Agency for
Technical Operations, Tsvetan Kitov, will not be resigning
because his resignation has not been requested.

GERB

Commenting Lazarov's resignation in Parliament, former interior
minister and GERB floor leader Tsvetan Tsvetanov said that a few
 names are being considered for the chief secretary position.

He said that the Interior Ministry is one of the most difficult
ministries, adding that he is convinced that Buchvarova will
stand up to the task, especially after she gets the support of
the political forces backing the Cabinet.

Asked whether there is tension between him and GERB leader
Borissov, Tsvetanov said: "There is no such tension and there is
 no way there can be. We trust each other completely".

Reformist Bloc

Parliamentary home affairs committee head Atanas Atanassov of
the Reformist Bloc told journalists in Parliament that
Lazarov could have saved this drama in Bulgarian politics long
ago if he had tendered his resignation when it was demanded at
the beginning of this Government's term.

According to Atanassov, Lazarov's resignation is a completely
normal development, after it was demanded by the Prime Minister.
 He said officers from the Interior Ministry have also wanted
it.

The professional community and the experienced officers at the
Interior Ministry sensed the lack of professional leadership, he
 commented. According to him, Lazarov did not take into account
the fact that he does not have the professional community's
support.

It would be good if the future chief secretary is someone who is
 respected by the professional circles in the Ministry, has
extensive professional experience, has headed different units,
including a territorial unit at the Ministry, Atanassov said.
From now on the appointees for the position will be proposed by
the Council of Ministers and approved by the President, he
explained, adding that the new chief secretary will become clear
 in a matter of days.

Patriotic Front

According to Patriotic Front Co-floor leader Krassimir
Karakachanov, Lazarov's resignation was expected. He said that
in a situation where the minister of interior resigns over his
chief secretary, it is logical for the Prime Minister to demand
Lazarov's resignation and for the chief secretary to respond to
the Prime Minister's demand. This is how things should happen in
 a civilized state, he said.

Karakachanov said that Lazarov could have been stubborn and
waited for a different procedure, which would have only
escalated the situation, adding that he sees Lazarov's decision
as being right.

Asked about the resignation of SANS Chair Pisanchev,
Karakachanov said that it would be right for him to tender it
given the situation.

A serious team must be created in the Interior Ministry, because
 only this could compensate the fact that Buchvarova is not from
 the system and many of the things are new to her, Karakachanov
commented.

Movement for Rights and Freedoms

Commenting Lazarov's and Pisanchev's resignations, Movement for
Rights and Freedoms leader Lyutvi Mestan said that when a
resignation is demanded by the Prime Minister it is handed and
not refused.

Ataka

The Chief Secretary should have resigned last autumn, when the
elections were bought, said Ataka MP Desislav Choukolov in
Parliament. According to him, the new chief secretary and new
interior minister must work in such a way that there is no vote
buying in the next elections. They must stop petty and Roma
crime, he also commented.