site.btaSocialists to Consult President, Prosecutor General, Judiciary Members on their Countercorruption Bill

Sofia, August 4 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) has invited the President, the Prosecutor General and representatives of the judiciary and of professional organizations to consultations on an alternative Countercorruption Bill of its own, BSP leader Kornelia Ninova told a news conference here on Friday.

She recalled that the Government has published a bill which provides for the establishment of a special countercorruption unit through the merger of existing authorities. "The BSP oppose this manner of setting up the unit, which mechanically puts together the pre-existing bodies, moreover keeping the same people, and deprives it of investigating functions. The manner in which the leadership of that unit is elected is an attempt by the executive to get it under control as well," Ninova argued.

Her party proposes that the special directorate at the State Agency for National Security be separated from the Agency and transformed into a stand-alone countercorruption unit, vested with investigating functions and with a head appointed by the President and members elected by Parliament by two-thirds majority.

In her words, all invitees who have been approached have agreed to participate in such consultations and to give their opinion. The BSP will send the invitation and documents in writing to Supreme Court of Cassation President Lozan Panov, who is on leave, and to the Bulgarian Judges Association. The target date for the completion of the talks is September 10.