site.btaNew Interior Minister Holds Get-to-Know Meeting with Trade Unions

109 POLITICS - INTERIOR MINISTER - TRADE UNIONS

New Interior Minister Holds
Get-to-Know Meeting
with Trade Unions


Sofia, September 21 (BTA) - Interior Minister Mladen Marinov had a get-to-know meeting with trade unions on Friday, a day after taking office. Marinov told the press that the unions are important for checking and assisting the work of the Interior Ministry leadership and for protecting the interests and the legal actions of officers.

Marinov resigned as Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry to become Interior Minister in a government reshuffle which also involved two other ministerial replacements. The changes were the government's way of taking the political responsibility for an August 25 bus tragedy.

The new minister told the media he had briefed the trade unions on his vision for the Interior Ministry. He said the unions supported the view that legislative amendments are necessary, and they pointed to the need for measures concerning welfare and the provision of uniforms.

Valentin Popov, President of the Trade Union Federation of Interior Ministry Employees, noted that Marinov perhaps needs some time to adapt to his new position as a politician. Popov said: "The success or failure of a minister largely determines the successes or failures of those who work in the ministry."

The trade union leader identified three major problems in the Interior Ministry which should be addressed, although they cannot be solved quickly. These are the chronic underfunding of the system, the insufficient motivation of the officers, and the fact that the ministry has so far been run by administrators, not politicians.

Popov expressed his satisfaction that a career officer has become Minister of Interior. LI/VE

/СН/