Bulgarian President Threatens 'Paid Leave' Court Action

Bulgaria’s President, Georgi Parvanov, says the mandate that all accumulated paid leave is used by employees in the country by the end of 2011 is unconstitutional. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria’s President, Georgi Parvanov, said he will take the amendments in the Labor Code, particularly those pertaining to the use of paid leave to the Constitutional Court.

Parvanov, who was in the town of Ihtiman, to open the State rural games, which are always held under his patronage, pointed out the “the issue is a constitutional matter with European dimensions.”

On July 5, the President imposed a veto on the decision of the Parliament to mandate that all accumulated paid leave is used by employees in the country by the end of 2011. Even before the veto, the Labor Unions and the opposition declared the amendment unconstitutional and threatened with the Constitutional Court.

It was reported earlier that during their Tuesday meeting, the Members of the Parliament from the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party have decided to extend the deadline for the use of vacation leave by six months or until mid-2012.

A day later, Prime Minister, and leader of GERB, Boyko Borisov, firmly denied such decision was made and said the proposal might have come up during the discussions, but had never been approved.

On Friday, Parvanov stated people’s constitutional rights cannot be dismissed at a later date, after the workers already earned their right to use paid leave. The President voiced hope a compromise can be reached and reminded that his more flexible solution of extending the deadline does not conflict the Constitution.

The Court’s involvement will, however, delay the decision until next year, according to the President.

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