site.btaHealth Fund Chief to be Elected According to New Rules

Sofia, July 6 (BTA) - Candidates for the director's job at the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) will be checked for possible affiliation with the Communist-era secret political police and military intelligence, the National Assembly resolved on Thursday, approving procedural rules for the election.

The news comes after the National Assembly terminated the mandate of NHIF Director Glinka Komitov, who had bid to resign for personal reasons.

Nominations for the directorship may be made in writing by parliamentary groups within five days after the rules are adopted. Each nomination must be supported by reasoning about the candidate's skills and a certificate of Bulgarian citizenship.

Non-governmental organizations may express opinions about the candidates, and media outlets may send questions to the Health Committee in the National Assembly in order for the candidates to answer them during a Committee hearing.

The hearing will be conducted publicly in an open-door session, during which the candidates will be interviewed in alphabetical order of their first names.

The nominations will then be put to the vote by the full Parliament. A candidate must be supported by more than half of the MPs present in order to be elected. If no one is elected, a new procedure will be launched.