site.btaInterior Minister Vouchkov Reduces Privileges of Ministry's Administration Employees

Interior Minister Vouchkov  Reduces Privileges of  Ministry's Administration Employees


Sofia, December 22 (BTA) - Interior Ministry employees working
in the administration units will no longer be category 1
workers, but will work under the Civil Servants Act, Interior
Minister Vesselin Vouchkov told journalists here on Monday after
Cabinet's meeting. In addition to that, the Ministry's
administration will be reduced by one third to one half, there
will be a higher police presence in settlements and, if
possible, service in the Interior Ministry, the State Agency for
National Security and the other specialized structures will be
made uniform so as to avoid tensions between officers, working
in the different structures, Vouchkov explained.

"If we are going to be a reformist majority, we must make
reforms. The topic of reforms was discussed today during
Cabinet's meeting," the Minister said.

In the meantime, the Cabinet's press service said that Prime
Minister Boyko Borissov supports the contemplated changes in
the Interior Ministry system that would result in reduction of
the administrative staff and an increase of the operational
staff.

Police officers and firefighters will remain civil servants
under the Interior Ministry Act, as their job is a form of
service to the State and the bonuses that go with it should
remain for them. There are two ways for solving petty crime -
more uniformed officers on the street and quality evidence
collection, Minister Vouchkov explained. The topic of the
Interior Ministry's video cameras is being put to a serious
discussion. The Ministry plans to create its own software and
become independent from the contracts with private companies
and their copyright licenses, he added.

"We will try to restore fully all functions of the Interior
Ministry structures already as of January 1," Minister Vouchkov
said. Prime Minister Borissov underscored that the chambers
should operate even at the cost of redundancies. He was adamant
that control and sanctions are needed to ensure compliance with
the law. Borissov paid particular attention to the sanctions for
drunk driving.

Minister Vouchkov said he will present a road map for the
reforms in his Ministry on January 12. "We already know the
Interior Ministry's budget for next year and we are now doing
the estimates," he said. Regulatory framework changes, related
to ammunition disposal, will also be proposed next month.

Vouchkov said that he has discussed the construction of a fence
along the Bulgarian-Turkish border with Turkey's Ambassador
Suleyman Gokce, noting once again that this would in no way be
an expression of hostility towards Turkey, and the purpose of
this is to direct immigrants towards border crossing
checkpoints.