Bulgarian MEPs Approach EC over State Gazette Scandal

Plamen Tsekov (L), deputy chair of the health commission, and Svetlin Tanchev (R), chair of the European Affairs parliamentary commission. Photo by BGNES

The Bulgarian MEPs from the ALDE Group in the European Parliament have approached the European Commission on the issue of the illegitimate amendment to the drugs law in Bulgaria's State Gazette

Antoniya Parvanova and Stanimir Ilchev from the centrist party NDSV, together with Feliz Husmenova, Metin Kazak and Vladko Panayotov from the ethnic Turkish party DPS have sent a letter to the commission, asking whether it finds a violation of the law procedures in the country during voting and promulgation of changes in the law.

“The Bulgarian citizens are entitled to have a good governance and good administration, and the legislature should be one of the main insurers for its compliance,” the letter said.

According to the Bulgarian MEPs, there have been a violation of the current legislative procedure. They have also added that according to the Bulgarian law, changes should be adopted after two votes in the plenary hall and the content of each law must be certified by the chair or the Parliament.

The amendment to the law on drugs, which was published in Bulgaria's State Gazette without the approval of the parliament or the president, has so far been innocently passed off as an involuntary mistake by the ruling GERB party, who has been accused of lobbying and forging a part of the law on drugs.

The illegitimate amendment was published in the State Gazette edition on March 23 and actually relieved the regime for advertising agencies to use images, resembling drugs.

Svetlin Tanchev, chair of the European Affairs parliamentary commission, and Plamen Tsekov, deputy chair of the health commission, were dismissed following a recommendation to this effect by the ad hoc body, which was formed to probe the case and come up with a ruling.

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