Opposition: Bulgarian Parliament Is Locked Out

The Bulgarian Parliament is exhibiting a complete failure to exert its constitutional powers during its last year in office, argued opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party MP Angel Naydenov.

"We are witnessing an unpecedented parliamentary lockout in which so-called "independent" MPs are running errands and party-affiliated MPs are being dismissed from their parties," said the Socialist group's vice chair.

Naydenov was referring to the ongoing split in rightist Union of Democratic Forces over the fiasco of nominating a constitutional judge.

In his interview for the Bulgarian National Radio Sunday, Naydenov was also critical of Parliament's work on Bulgaria's budget for 2013.

"The budget for 2013 does not solve any of the people's problems. There are no clear policies and priorities, and so there are no clear financial instruments to achieve any," said the socialist MP.

"That is why we offered our alternative budget framework in which we put our specific proposals for spending to boost quality of life, income, employment and education," added he.

Naydenov said that although the Bulgarian Socialist Party has not formally implemented a so-called shadow cabinet, it in effect fulfills that practice by holding standing meetings and developing specific alternative policies for all policy areas.