site.btaUPDATED Socialists Complain to EU Ambassadors about Political Developments in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) voiced its disapproval of political developments in the country and its "deviation from the basic standards of functioning of a contemporary European democracy" in a letter to the ambassadors of EU member states to Bulgaria, the party's press office said on Saturday.

The BSP said in the letter: "Authoritarian and antidemocratic rule is emerging in Bulgaria at parliamentary and governmental level. For the first time in the country's democratic history the opposition has been pushed to the periphery of parliamentary life as it has been denied the chance to head a single standing committee. The rules of organization and procedure of the National Assembly are violated systematically and the legislative process is deprived of any predictability whatsoever."

The Socialists drew attention to the way in which the pro-government parties (GERB, Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria, and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms) "are distributing the seats in the independent regulators".

"They have made it clear that they are not going to look for the best experts but plan to make political appointments contrary to the principles of good governance. This would create a risk not only for Bulgaria but potentially for the whole EU," the Socialists warned.

They insisted that these and other burning issues should be discussed early next year, when the BSP leadership will hold its usual meetings with the ambassadors of EU member states.

"International and regional European organizations will also be alerted in the coming weeks against the undemocratic and anti-European actions of the ruling entities (CC-DB, MRF, GERB) and their leaders," the BSP said.

On Friday, BSP leader Kornelia Ninova commented to journalists that the pro-government parties do not care about the state budget, welfare payments and pensions. Her remark came after the daily sitting of the National Assembly failed due to the absence of quorum.

On Saturday, Ninova said that the BSP will participate in the extraordinary sessions of Parliament on Monday when the the budgets of the National Health Insurance Fund and the State Social Insurance Fund will considered.

The BSP leader also argued that if the acceptance of Bulgaria in Schengen is only by air and at the expense of accepting a quota of refugees from European countries, then it is better that the government does not agree. She reiterated again that the socialists are adamantlu in favour of Bulgaria's entry  into Shenten and believe that Bulgaria has long since fulfilled the conditions required for this.