Bulgarian Opposition Socialists Demand Eco Minister Ousting

The leader of the Bulgarian Socialists and ex Prime Minister, Sergey Stanishev, launched Monday another attack on the cabinet of the ruling GERB party over their handling of the carbon trade issue. Photo by BGNES

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) voiced Monday another demand for a dismissal of a member of the cabinet of the ruling center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party.

After asking for the ousting of Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, over his inability to deal with the country's budget, the socialists now want the dismissal of Environment Minister, Nona Karadzhova.

The declaration was made by party leader Sergey Stanishev, who said Karadzhova must leave immediately because she had lied in public several times and failed to defend national interests after the checkup in October 2009 which led to Bulgaria's suspension from carbon emissions trading under the Kyoto Protocol pending confirmation of the United Nations' committee.

The United Nations' committee is, however, expected to revoke the country's accreditation under the treaty, which will exclude Bulgarian companies from trading in greenhouse gas, beginning June 30. On Friday, the Environment Minister pointed out she expected the restoration of the accreditation in the fall of 2010.

Speaking at a forum in Sofia Thursday, Karadzhova said a UN report under the Framework Convention on Climate Change has exposed “devastating” flaws of Bulgaria’s National System for Evaluation of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

The Environment Minister blames the problems on the inactivity of her predecessor, Dzhevdet Chakarov, who failed to undertake any actions after warnings that the system of verifying the carbon emissions of the Bulgarian industrial sector is inaccurate. Karadzhova said the Ministry, under her leadership, made all possible effort to avoid the sanctions. Chakarov denies the accusations and on his part blames the new cabinet.

On Friday, BSP also demanded a public review of Bulgaria's national inventory system for greenhouse gas emissions.

The Socialists further want an audit of the reserve of the National Health insurance Fund (NZOK) and claim BGN 600 M from it have been spent by the GERB cabinet without permission and accountability.

Stanishev also said the rate of absorbing EU funds is alarming and Bulgaria has dropped down to the 25th place or 11 positions just in several months, which, according to him, was triggered by the mass layoffs of experts from the State administration and the fear among those remaining at their posts.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!