site.btaIn Address to Nation President Radev Urges for Change to Strengthen Citizens' Participation in, Oversight of Governance

106 POLITICS-PRESIDENT-ADDRESS TO NATION update 1


In Address to Nation President Radev Urges for Change to Strengthen Citizens' Participation in, Oversight of Governance

September 4 (BTA) - Addressing the nation and Parliament
at the opening sitting of the National Assembly after its summer
break on Wednesday, President Rumen Radev spoke about the need
for a change to strengthen the citizens' participation in, and
oversight of governance, to make the institutions more
transparent and accountable, to fledge out the initiative of the
Bulgarians and enable a fuller participation in the public
life.

"The Bulgarian citizens are becoming alienated from their own State; power is being taken from the people and given to a narrow circle of persons who accumulate economic benefits and enjoy media comfort which in turn get transformed into even more power. For the rest of the Bulgarians there is no development, security and prosperity but poverty and corruption," Radev said.

"We need a strong State with clear rules and order which work for the people and are abided by all," Radev said, noting that such a change cannot be made by an individual, a group of people or a political party, so that the leading role of the Bulgarian Parliament comes to the forth.

Radev warned the MPs that if this is not done, "the apathy will continue to drive people to emigrate, and the street will sweep away the status quo". "The Bulgarians expect your responsible actions. Anyone who works not for their private, corporate or narrow party interest will have an ally in me," the President said.

Radev argued that the political environment and the way power is exercised must be changed, in respect of which he turns to Parliament as an institution that represents the will of the people and is called upon to control the executive power.

Parliament Should Exercise Stricter Control of Executive Power

"Effective governance and prosperity is impossible without proper parliamentary oversight of the executive power," Radev said. He suggested that MPs summon the Prime Minister in Parliament at least once every month to answer general questions and report on the performance of the government's programme for governance once in the year, whereby the reasons for possible non-performance are debated in the National Assembly.

The head of State said that the government of Bulgaria is one of the few governments in the EU whose governance programme did not undergo preliminary approval by Parliament, preceded by a public debate. In Radev's words, it would be good if, in addition to the cabinet line-up, the Prime Minister present for approval by Parliament his/her governance programme, whereby the programme and deviations from it are debated in the plenary chamber once in the year.

The President criticized the long practice of projecting a lower than expected budget surplus whereby the balance is expended by the government as it deems fit. Radev urged the MPs to put an end to the practice. "Such an approach runs counter to the good practices and generates corruption," he said, noting that the cabinet needs to have operational freedom about budget spending but within a clearly determined framework laid down by Parliament.

End to Legal Amendments without Impact Assessment and Consultations

The President also urged Parliament to abolish the vicious practice of amending basic law with texts included in transitional and final provisions of other law, thereby avoiding putting them to public consultations and impact assessment. "This engenders unpredictability and eliminates citizens' participation. People expect more predictability and transparency which will increase the confidence in the legislative power," Radev said.

The head of State the time is ripe for giving greater independence, industriousness and responsibility of the local powers, by genuine financial decentralization. "Now the local administrations depend on the benevolence of the government, any government, which often materializes guided by unknown or narrow party criteria," Radev said.

The President asked the MPs to improve the law on referendums whose current version does not allow effective direct democracy.

Radev also said that the current parliamentary session will be held in the run-up to local elections and people expect predictability in the voting process. The President said that reliable machine voting must be ensured. Also, electronic remote voting is to be implemented faster, with the proper guarantees for protection of the national security.

Bulgarians Born Abroad Should be Allowed in National Politics

The President suggested passing legal amendments to allow Bulgarians with Bulgarian citizenship by birth who have acquired a second citizenship in a EU member state or another developed democracies to be able to run for elections. "Many Bulgarians live abroad and it is of extreme importance to keep their spiritual link with their motherland and be able to take part in the country's political life. Many such Bulgarians hold exceptional degrees and exercise high-end professions. Allowing them to take part in the Bulgarian politics, the experience they have in countries with more developed democracy will benefit Bulgaria and act as an incentive for their return here," Radev said.

"Make Bulgaria Normal State"

In the final part of his address Radev urged Parliament to make Bulgaria into a normal European state with rule of law, an active civil society, and transparent and effective institutions.

The President said education is a priority which in his words needs to be supported by much more decisive legislative and financial measures, a predictable and stable environment for investment, instead of "targeted hunting out of a couple of strategic investors". Radev also urged fro reducing the administrative burden, a reform in healthcare, electronic services, and fighting corruption.

* * *

The new session of Parliament was opened with the national anthem and the anthem of the EU.

Speaking to reporters in the corridors of Parliament before the
opening ceremony, National Assembly Chairperson Tsveta
Karayancheva said that the new session will inevitably feel the
pressure of the upcoming local elections due on October 27.
Karayancheva said that in the run-up to elections the political
passions run high and the parliamentary rostrum is often used
for political messages and heated disputes. She urged the MPs to
show respect and manners "because we may be opponents but we
are also fellow MPs and together we represent Bulgaria". "Let's
show that the National Assembly is a responsible institution and
the MPs carry out their work properly, as do all Bulgarians,"
Karayancheva said. IG/ZH//