site.bta Ivan Ivanov Elected Chairman of Energy Regulator

Ivan Ivanov Elected Chairman of Energy Regulator

Sofia, April 2 (BTA) - Ivan Ivanov has been elected as Chairman
of the Energy and Water Regulatory Committee (EWRC) by
Parliament on Thursday. Ivanov was supported by 142 MPs, 10
voted against and five abstained. He was elected by the votes of
 the national representatives of GERB, the Movement for Rights
and Freedoms (MRF), the Patriotic Front, ABV and Bulgarian
Democratic Centre (BDC). Ivanov, nominated by the Reformist
Bloc, was the only candidate for the position.

Only two MPs from the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) took part
in the vote and they voted against. Ataka and one independent MP
 did not support Ivanov either. BSP and Ataka alleged there were
 preliminary political arrangements regarding the nominated
members for the new EWRC. The Parliamentary Group of the Left
wished to withdraw its nominees for EWRC members, BSP MP Tasko
Ermenkov said after a break, requested by Ataka. "The group
gathered and decided that the opposition candidates are good
enough as professional in order to subject them to a
preliminarily determined vote," said Ermenkov. National Assembly
 Chair Tsetska Tsacheva referred to the Procedural Rules as
saying that it is inadmissible to withdraw the nomination and
the Left MPs walked out of the hall.
 
During the debate prior to the vote, Martin Dimitrov reproached
BSP for shunning responsibility. On his turn, BSP Floor Leader
Mihail Mikov accused Dimitrov of demagogy because it was
allegedly clear to everyone that the quotas were decided in
advance.

Ivan Ivanov will be the latest Avatar of [former Democrats for
Strong Bulgaria leader] Ivan Kostov due to his relation  with
the US thermal power plants, Ataka's Magdalena Tasheva said
voicing her party's position. Ataka also opposes the nominations
 of Milena Milanova, Svetla Todorova and Evgenia Haritonova as
EWRC members. They also stated that Ivanov is about to fulfill
the dream of MRF former leader Ahmed Dogan for ensuring
preferences for plants generating energy from manure. Tasheva
also voiced suspicions about arrangements with President Rosen
Plevneliev and the "Capital" circle in exchange of a support for
 the retrofitting of buildings.

The incumbents and MRF were adamant that the candidates are
professionals and will abide by the law. There is nothing wrong
in the political parties supporting their candidates because any
 doubts about behind-the-curtain arrangements will be dispelled
in this way. The Parliamentary Group of MRF would be the last to
 object to Ivanov's nomination because this man indisputably has
 clear political identification, said Mestan. In his opinion,
there could be a problem, if two or three parties of the ruling
majority have named two thirds of the Commission line-up.

Patriotic Front Floor Leader Valeri Simeonov objected against
the nomination of Remzi Osman (MRF) because his CV had
reportedly nothing to do with the energy and water supply and
sewerage sector.
***
After the vote the newly elected nine-member EWRC swore in
before Parliament.

Four people are represented in the regulator from the quota of
experts with an experience in energy: Alexander Yordanov
(Patriotic Front), Georgi Zlatev (BDC), Evgenia Haritonova
(GERB) and Vladko Vladimirov (Patriotic Front).

Valentin Petkov (Reformist Bloc) and Dimiter Kochkov (BSP-Left
Bulgaria) will be in charge of the water supply and sewerage
sector.

The jurist quota will consist of Remzi Osman (MRF) and Svetla
Todorova (GERB).
 
"This authority, which should be independent and in service of
the Bulgarian citizens by law has become political instead,"
Krassimir Yankov from BSP-Left Bulgaria told a news briefing in
Parliament. He criticized the new Commission for not having
experts in the fields of gas supply and heat energy. "We refuse
to participate in this circus and farce, where everything is
known in advance," said Yankov. Asked about the election of
their representative to EWRC, the Left replied that there is an
idea that he would tender his resignation.