site.btaPresident Calls for Setting Up Single Body with Clear Powers to Fight High-level Corruption

President Calls for Setting Up Single Body with Clear Powers to Fight High-level Corruption

Athens, June 24 (BTA special correspondent Asen Boyadjiev) - Bulgarian President Rumen Radev believes that a genuine judicial reform requires simultaneous efforts in all directions, but most importantly, it is necessary to set up a single body with clear powers to fight high-level corruption.

Radev was speaking to journalists on the second and last day of his state visit to Greece.

He said: "I know a lot about the Romanian model. I know both its upside and its downside. I am not an admirer of anybody's model. Bulgaria cannot borrow models directly, but we need to take the leading principles of each model."

He went on to note: "It is about time we build a very clearly structured body capable of collecting and analyzing information, investigating, and preparing legal charges. Charges that can stand in court. This body should be staffed with people who possess the competencies of the State Agency for National Security, the competencies of investigative police, IT experts, experts in the field of finance, banking, and so on. These people, brought together in a team with sufficient powers, with high salaries, should really dig into all major public procurement procedures that have aroused suspicion, and they should watch very carefully what is going on. Fair solutions should be found to many issues, and this body should instill discipline in our political class."

Radev remarked that unless corruption is suppressed effectively, there can be no economic progress, no sufficient GDP growth, high living standards, or a good investment climate. "Look at the effect on all these spheres in Romania, and look at us," he said.