site.btaContinue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria Offer GERB-UDF to Move Jointly Counter-corruption Commission Election Rules

Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) offer their partners of GERB-UDF to move jointly rules on the election of a Commission for Anti-Corruption, CC-DB Co-floor Leader Kiril Petkov said on Friday.

Petkov noted that the Counter-Corruption Act was adopted five months ago but a Commission has yet to be elected. "We invite the colleagues to move these rules together on Tuesday, so that the nominations would be made in the most public and most transparent manner," Petkov said. "I am pleased to see that we are starting to move in the right direction," he added, commenting on the readiness expressed by GERB leader Boyko Borissov for filling the complement of the Commission on Protection of Competition.

CC-DB Co-floor Leader Hristo Ivanov said that they prioritize the subject of regulators, the reforms in the security services and in justice, so as to carry on the negotiating process with their partners of GERB-UDF.

He was adamant that the case of Martin "the Notary" Bozhanov has clearly shown that no institution at this point is immune to suspicion. "The rules have long been drawn up and have gone through consultation, it remains to go ahead with filling up that body," Ivanov said.

"We would like to reconfirm our understanding that Bulgaria cannot solve the political crisis sustainably and live up to public expectations about the formation of a cabinet in the second part of the rotation without having a clear answer about the reforms that will be carried out in counter-corruption, the rule of law and security," Ivanov said. CC-DB are ready to seek constructively a balance but only a balance that, in his words, "is consistent with the public interest in Bulgaria's advancement." 

Ivanov also commented on whether Borislav Sarafov should be pressed to resign as acting prosecutor general. "If it is impossible to prove that a person has perpetrated a crime does not at all imply that that person does not tarnish the good name of the institution they represent," the CC-DB Co-floor Leader said, adding that he would rather reserve judgment until he has heard Sarafov in the parliamentary committee of inquiry.