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 Pisanchev later on Friday.
The Prime Minister said that the new minister of interior will
decide who the next chief secretary will be. MORE

Parliamentary home affairs committee head Atanas Atanassov of
the Reformist Bloc (RB) 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.

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.