site.btaSocialist MP Maya Manolova: Every Smart Government Needs Active, Critical Ombudsman

Socialist MP Maya Manolova: Every Smart Government Needs Active, Critical Ombudsman

Sofia, July 22 (BTA) - The BTA National Press Club Wednesday hosted a public debate with the candidate for national ombudsman Maya Manolova. Angelika Tsokova of the DNES civil movement, which organized the event, explained that National Ombudsman Konstantin Penchev had been invited to the debate but he had not accepted the invitation.

Penchev and Manolova, who are the two candidates for the post of national ombudsman, will be given a hearing at the parliamentary Religious Denominations and Human Rights Committee on Thursday.

Manolova, who has been nominated by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), said that the citizens feel small and crushed in their own country in the face of their own administration. In this situation people need a defender, and this can hardly happen through the political roles, she noted.

In her works, people expect the ombudsman to go to them instead of them having to knock on his door, therefore he should come out of his office and go to the people. In her words, the ombudsman's place is in Gurmen (Southwestern Bulgaria) [where anti-Roma riots took place in May], beside the agricultural producers, at the National Health Insurance Fund, at the Council of Ministers when it is being decided to freeze the social allowances, and in parliamentary committees.

Manolova said that she would also change the way in which the national ombudsman reacts to complaints. He has assumed the role of an "office of complaints", when he should be initiating checks himself, she argued. In her words, the work with civil organizations is also far from perfect.

According to Manolova, the national ombudsman has enough powers which, if filled with content, will make his work more effective. She specified that he has the right of indirect legislative initiative: he can make proposals to the National Assembly Chair and the parliamentary groups, give positions on bills concerning the rights and freedoms of citizens, as well as refer such legislation to the Constitutional Court.

The DNES civil movement said that the communication between them and the national ombudsman on various topics has been difficult and slow over the years.