site.btaCountercorruption Law to Be Resubmitted to Parliament

Countercorruption Law to Be Resubmitted to Parliament

Sofia, September 4 (BTA) - Reformist Bloc co-floor leader Radan Kanev told journalists on Friday that the countercorruption law will be voted at the earliest possibility. Kanev was speaking following a meeting of the Council for Development with the Council of Ministers which considered the issue.

Kanev said that at issue will be a possibility for secrecy of alerts and discourage anonymous slanders and the body which will appoint the countercorruption bureau chief.

On Thursday the legislature rejected on first reading the government-sponsored bill on the prevention of corruption of senior public officials. The vote was 101 in favour (GERB and the Reformist Bloc), 38 against (BSP-Left Bulgaria), and 72 abstentions (Patriotic Front, ABV, Movement for Rights and Freedoms, and Ataka). Five MPs of the Bulgarian Democratic Centre abstained, and two vote against.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova who chairs the Council, said there are no political differences in principle but that some technical details that need to be considered. "We are starting talks to improve the bill since we are all aware that it is necessary."

Deputy Prime Minister Kuneva said that the bill may be resubmitted after December 3. She said: "After my talk with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov I am certain that the bill will be strong. The bill should be backed by all the parties that support the government and this is a subject on which we can't be divided."