site.btaEconomy Minister: Consumer Protection Commission Leadership Should Be Replaced

Minister of Economy and Industry Bogdan Bogdanov Sunday said on Nova TV that the leadership of the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) should be changed at the first possible moment. He underscored that the CPC will be the main body that will protect the interests of consumers during the smooth transition from the lev to the euro. 

"We have proposed a team, we are currently discussing the specific candidates, we are waiting for the court's decision on the change made by the caretaker cabinet," Bogdanov said.  

On Friday, Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said during Question Time in Parliament that that the CPC could not fulfill its duties and the cabinet was looking for a sustainable solution to the case.  

The Economy Minister commented for Nova TV that one problem is the lawsuits, but the other, more significant problem is that the current CPC leadership is totally compromised and it is no coincidence that he has asked for resignations. "One deputy chairman has resigned, the chairman has refused, but they are compromised to the public and to businesses," Bogdanov said. 

Asked about the State Consolidation Company (SCC), Minister Bogdanov said that if there is no need for the SCC and it will be closed, but that this is a process. In his words, in recent months they have seen inefficient management and corruption.The total amount of money awarded without public procurement directly to certain people is approximately BGN 800 million, Bogdanov specified. According to him, these procurements were rather made by incompetent managers of these companies, and he sees no direct political or other interference in them. Bogdanov added that directors of some of these companies spent official money and bought luxury goods for BGN 4,000 during the holidays.