site.btaSocialist MP Maya Manolova Elected Ombudsman

Socialist MP Maya Manolova Elected Ombudsman

Sofia, July 30 (BTA) - Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) MP Maya
Manolova was elected Ombudsman of Bulgaria by a secret vote in
Parliament on Thursday. She drew 129 votes, while the other
candidate, hitherto Ombudsman Konstantin Penchev, received 82
votes. Twelve of the ballot papers were invalid.

Before the vote the two candidates were presented by the
parliamentary groups which  nominated them.

Reformist Bloc Deputy Floor Leader Korman Ismailov presented the
 candidature of Penchev. Ismailov noted that Penchev has
performed successfully as Ombudsman and is a successful jurist,
who has reached the peaks of his professional development. He
has preserved his prestige, balanced approach and commitment.
Ismailov underscored that all of Penchev's reports in his
capacity as Ombudsman have been accepted with full support and
approval.

Mihail Mikov, Floor Leader of BSP-Left Bulgaria, presented the
candidature of Maya Manolova. She served as MP both while her
party was in power and in opposition, so she has seen both sides
 of governance, Mikov said. According to him, Manolova is very
active in the protection of citizens' rights. He recalled that a
 parliamentary committee for cooperation with the civil society
was set up on her initiative.

"I will work with all institutions, with the government, with
the parliamentary majority, so that citizens can be actively
protected. I will be active, critical, but in the interest of
the citizens," Manolova told journalists in Parliament after
being elected.

She explained that she will officially step into office at the
end of October, when Penchev's term as Ombudsman expires. Prior
to that, Manolova must leave her BSP posts.

Manolova stated that one of her first meetings will be with the
incumbent Ombudsman, because in her words, there must be
continuity in the institution's work.

"My main idea for change is for the ombudsman to go to the
people and intercept the problems on the spot, instead of
waiting to be alerted and have the citizens knocking on his
door," Manolova said.

Asked about her motives for running for the post, Manolova said
that she has come to believe that if she wants to really help
the Bulgarian citizens in a difficult situation, she must do it
from the position of an institution and not a party affiliation.
 
 
After being elected, Manolova thanked all MPs who supported her
and believed that she will be an effective and worthy defender
of citizens. She also thanked those who did not support her, as
she will now be challenged to prove that she can be a good
ombudsman.