Bulgarian Deputy PM Will Not Give Up Interior Ministry Reform

Politics » DOMESTIC | April 10, 2016, Sunday // 14:52
Bulgaria: Bulgarian Deputy PM Will Not Give Up Interior Ministry Reform Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova. Photo: BGNES

Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova said that she will not back down from carrying out the reform of the interior ministry.

Her comments come after the draft amendments to the Interior Ministry Act were rejected by the parliamentary internal security and public order committee earlier in the week.

During the voting in the committee, only the largest ruling party GERB voted in favour of the draft. The largest opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) voted against, while all the other parties, including the junior coalition partner the Reformist Bloc (RB) and the parties supporting the coalition government, abstained.

Parliament Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva assured on Saturday that the draft amendments will be discussed in the plenary chamber despite their rejection in the committee.

In an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) on Sunday, Bachvarova said that she is not disappointed from this development.

She understood that it was hard for everyone who has been part of the system to look at it in a different way.

The minister identified her own mission as being to do something better for the system, so that it can benefit the citizens.

She pointed that she has always enjoyed the unconditional support of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

Bachvarova explained that the work on the draft has lasted for nearly a year. Furthermore, the draft underwent public discussion and took into account the notes of all ministers and has been signed by the prime minister.

According to her, the greatest possible transparency in the process has been achieved.

Therefore, she will not give up as she is convinced that such a change within the interior ministry is needed.

In case there is formidable parliamentary opposition, Bachvarova will wait for three months and the draft will be reviewed and re-tabled.

The minister would accept all reasonable recommendations which do not change the proposed philosophy.

She outlined the achievements of the ministry in the past year since she has assumed the office of interior minister.

In her opinion, the ministry was doing exceptionally well at guarding the border and in maintaining its readiness to react in the event of a terrorist attack although there is no direct threat.

The General Directorate Combating Organized Crime (GDBOP) was functioning well after the the restructuring, police was active and has began new approach for limiting day-to-day crime through prevention.

Reforms suggested in the autumn led to large-scale protests of police officers, who were discontent with the proposed cuts to remuneration, social benefits and compensations paid upon retirement.

The government conceded to the demands of the protesters and withdrew the controversial changes. However the new proposals do not radically differ from the previous ones and police officers have readiness to stage new protests.

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Tags: Bulgaria, interior ministry, reform, Rumyana Bachvarova, Boyko Borisov, Tsetska Tsacheva, border, GDBOP, protest, police

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