site.btaHi-Tech Sector Joins Debate for Chipped IDs

Hi-Tech Sector Joins Debate for Chipped IDs

Sofia, March 12 (BTA) - The Business Board of the Electronic Government Council has moved to Parliament a position paper in the debate in favour of introducing IDs with an electronic chip for Bulgarian citizens, the Bulgarian Association for Information Technologies told the press Saturday. They argue that the opportunity for introducing chipped IDs should be introduced through provisions in the Electronic Identification Act which are currently being debated rather than at a later stage, by changes in the Bulgarian Identity Documents Act.

The Business Board with the Electronic Government Council was established as an advisory body by the Council of Ministers. Bulgarian Association for Information Technologies is its member.

Chipped IDs will allow use of a myriad of electronic government services and electronic voting. It was proposed by Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova, who is also in charge of coordinating an e-government project that Prime Minster Boyko Borissov has repeated mentioned among his top priorities.

During a debate on the law at the parliamentary interior security committee, its chairman Tsvetan Tsvetanov, who is also a former Interior Minister and GERB floor leader, suggested that the electronic chip legislation be left for a later stage when the Bulgarian Identity Documents Act will be revised - and the committee agreed with him. Tsvetanov argued that doing as proposed by the Interior Minister will bring chaos to the legislation. He also said that the chipped cards will be too expensive to produce.

The association of the IT companies say in their statement that the argument for the higher cost of the chipped IDs is irrelevant because taking out such a card with a chip will be a right, not an obligation. "It is important that the MPs provide an opportunity for Bulgarian citizens to make this choice," they say.

The Reformist Bloc is adamant that Buchvarova's proposal should be supported as it is and have asked to meet with the GERB MPs this coming week to discuss the matter.

Democrats for Strong Bulgaria leader Radan Kanev wrote in a Facebook post that postponing the chipped ID legislation is "a regressive political action which puts to question the very philosophy of electronic government".

The Vote without Borders initiative committee, which was set up to support e-voting in a national referendum in October 2015, said Saturday that they have sent a letter to to Prime Minister Borissov telling him that scrapping the chipped IDs provisions in the Electronic Identification Act will thwart electronic voting. "Delaying the option of electronic voting will make it practically impossible for 2 million Bulgarians living abroad to observe the law," the letter says.

Parliament approved on principle legislation that will make voting in elections mandatory.