Bulgarian Socialist MP Accuses GERB Party of Obstructing Election Code Changes

Politics » DOMESTIC | June 26, 2013, Wednesday // 11:36
Bulgaria: Bulgarian Socialist MP Accuses GERB Party of Obstructing Election Code Changes Maya Manolova, MP of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), photo by BGNES

Socialist MP Maya Manolova said Wednesday that the only party interested in obstructing Election Code amendments was center-right party GERB because they had drafted the legislation and were willing to take advantage of it once again.

Manolova gave an interview shortly after it emerged that Wednesday's parliament sitting had been cancelled over the lack of quorum, with 112 MPs in attendance, and absent MPs of nationalist party Ataka and the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party.

Wednesday's sitting of parliament was postponed for Thursday.

Before speaking to journalists, Manolova got booed by a crowd of around 1000 anti-government protesters.

She made clear that she had only sought to invite the people to the public discussion of proposals for Election Code amendments scheduled to start at 3 pm in Parliament.

Manolova listed the first decisions and measures of the 42nd National Assembly and the government aimed at assisting the most socially vulnerable groups.

"It was GERB's decision to leave Parliament and they are responsible for it. If they really want amendments to the Election Code, there is a committee sitting today, all political parties have been invited, including extra-parliamentary ones, and NGOs. Anybody who wants the rules to change, so that there is more trust and legitimacy, is invited to take part in the process. Empty talk and promises cannot convince anyone," the MP of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) stated.

Asked to explain the absence of MPs of nationalist party Ataka during Wednesday's sitting of Parliament, she said that she had not been authorized to speak on their behalf and advised journalists to wait for one more day.

"It will become clear tomorrow morning. Until then, they may come up with a statement. Have patience, things cannot become immediately clear at this point," she added, as cited by the BGNES news agency.

Wednesday is the 13th day of protests in Bulgaria.

Public discontent spiked in response to the appointment of notorious media mogul Delyan Peevski as Chair of the State Agency for National Security (DANS), but the protesters were not appeased by the subsequent cancellation of the decision and went on to demand the resignation of the socialist-led cabinet of Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski over ties with oligarchs, as well as Election Code amendments aimed at guaranteeing greater civic participation in government.

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Tags: Maya Manolova, Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Bulgarian government, Bulgarian Parliament, protests, Election Code, State Agency for National Security, DANS, Delyan Peevski, GERB, Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, Plamen Oresharski

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