site.btaFuture Anticorruption Body Will Consider Anonymous Media Publications On Its Own Initiative

Sofia, August 16 (BTA) - The future anti-corruption body will be able to convene on its own initiative to discuss anonymous media publications and perform checks, Justice Minister Tsetska Tsacheva said in an interview for the Bulgarian National Television on Wednesday adding that this is envisaged in a bill proposed by the Justice Ministry.

The idea of allowing anonymous citizens' reports was dismissed. It was proposed by former deputy prime minister Meglena Kuneva but did not enlist adequate support in the previous parliament.

Minister Tsacheva noted that the MPs of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) were the most severe critics of these texts, while the alternative bill proposed by them allows anonymous reports. She wandered whether the authors of the Socialists' bill have read the statements of their party fellow-members during the previous National Assembly sessions.

Tsacheva voiced regret that the bill proposed by Kuneva was not adopted by the 43rd National Assembly as it could have already yielded results.

The Minister also noted that the new bill will be considered with priority by the incumbent Parliament. The final discussion will be on September 1.

The draft provisions also envisage that the commission in charge of the corruption cases will be a collective body elected by the National Assembly.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) presented Monday its bill for a specialized anti-corruption commission, which will be able to act on its own initiative and check politicians' declarations and alerts. The bill provides for the agency's head to be appointed by the President and only serve a single term.

Tsacheva said she does not support the BSP bill, presented on Monday, under which the anti-corruption commission is to be run by a chair appointed by the President. According to her Ministry's version, the commission will not have investigative functions but will only submit reports to the competent institutions.