site.btaDeputy PM Kuneva: "I Will Propose Rejected Countercorruption Bill Again in December"

Deputy PM Kuneva: "I Will Propose Rejected Countercorruption Bill Again in December"

Veliko Turnovo, North Central Bulgaria, September 12 (BTA) -
Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva said at BTA's Press Club in
 Veliko Turnovo she would re-introduce a countercorruption bill
rejected on first reading as soon as possible in December. The
High-Level Corruption Prevention Bill was rejected early in
September. 

Kuneva could not say how long it would take Parliament to pass
the law.

The bill aimed to establish a National Corruption Prevention
Office (NCPO) as a single anti-corruption authority superseding
a number of institutions currently active in this field. One
argument against the bill was that corruption alerts should not
be considered if they come from anonymous sources. The proposed
procedure for appointing the NCPO head also proved
controversial. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms argued that
the NCPO chief should not be nominated by the Prime Minister and
 appointed by the President because the Prime Minister is among
the officials who may be investigated by the future office.

She said: "I do not feel thwarted by the rejection of the bill
on first reading. I am glad that the bill was strongly supported
 by the Reformist Bloc and GERB, which are the ruling coalition,
 and it was not shaken in any way on account of this bill.
However, I would like it to be recognized by Parliament as a
whole, and the MPs should make it even more ambitious and strict
 if necessary." 

The anti-corruption bill is a serious warning to anyone who has
political and financial power or works in vulnerable areas such
as health care and education, making him or her subject to
control, said Kuneva. She added that the bill concerns 10,000
people in Bulgaria but is very important.