Bulgaria's Borissov Calls for Suspension of Media Grants Amid Budget Controversy
Boyko Borissov, leader of GERB, escalated his criticism of Bulgarian media outlets receiving grants today, calling for the suspension of such funding
Politicization at the Interior Ministry is the biggest problem with probes into vote-buying schemes in Bulgaria, caretaker Deputy Interior Minister Filip Gunev said Monday.
At the last session of the Civic Board for Free and Transparent Elections that operated with Bulgaria's interim cabinet, Gunev slammed the former socialist-liberal government of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) and their predecessors from conservatives Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) for reshuffling chiefs of local directorates at the ministry.
"The Interior Ministry was basically in the DPS's portfolio, it was governed mostly by it. On a local level these regional directors are not just appointments of the professional management, [but] political appointments... coordinated with parties," he alleged.
This is not a problem when investigating into petty crime, put poses challenges to vote-buying and vote-selling probes, since a certain official is in "a conflict of interest, having to investigate into those who appointed him," the website Dariknews.bg quoted Gunev as saying.
The Deputy Minister added some regions showed an increased share of trade in votes, with Pazardzhik in South Bulgaria and Varna in the country's north-east having the highest rates.
Organization of October 5's early elections was the main task that was assigned to the caretaker government by President Rosen Plevneliev.
Caretaker Interior Minister Yordan Bakalov earlier told private national channel bTV that acting politicians were involved in vote-buying and selling, but refused to give any names.
Bulgaria's largest party GERB and the Reformist Bloc have both taken a U-turn after initially saying they found it impossible to shake hands during the government consultations on Wednesday.
Bulgaria's Central Electoral Committee (CEC) fined the leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) Lyutvi Mestan and MP Hyusein Hafsuzov for solicitation in foreign language, which is forbidden by law.
The new National Assembly is to hold its opening session on October 27, at 14:00 EEST, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev announced.
Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev is set to meet on Wednesday all parties and coalitions entering the new Parliament after the October 5 early elections.
Right-wing Reformist Bloc is the third political force to meet conservative GERB as part of the consultations to form a coalition government with shared responsibility.
The centre-right GERB and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) will negotiate on Tuesday afternoon on the formation and support for new government.
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