Bulgarian Stats Head Resigns over Ethnic Controversy

The Head of the Bulgarian National Statistics Institute (NSI), Mariana Kotseva, resigned over criticism related to ethnic categories included in a census questionnaire prepared by the Institute. Photo by BGNES

The Head of the Bulgarian National Statistics Institute (NSI), Mariana Kotseva, submitted her resignation Wednesday with Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov.

Kotseva announced the news herself during an emergency press conference at the Council of Ministers, saying she had not met with Borisov in person and does not know if her resignation would be accepted.

The NSI Head stated her move was triggered by criticism related to the questionnaire prepared by the institution for the trial internet census giving as possible answers for ethnic groups: Bulgarian, Turkish, Roma, and a 4th option listing ethnicities such as Bulgarian-Muslim, Macedonian, African-American, among others.

Kotseva explained these categories were listed based on answers given by people during previous censuses, adding NSI has no authority or the goal to determine what ethnic groups live in Bulgaria, just wanted to give every Bulgarian citizen the opportunity to self-determine his or her ethnic background.

The NSI Head pointed out she was resigning because she was a responsible public servant.

The move came on the heels of declarations issued by the nationalist VMRO party last week, demanding the categories to be removed from the questionnaire over fears they would divide the nation.

Borisov already declined to comment on the issue.

On Wednesday, VMRO responded that regardless of the outcome with the resignation, Kotseva should not be the only person to take the blame and it was crucial to find out who was the real culprit behind the controversial questionnaire.

VMRO want to leave the "others" category blank, and give the respondents the opportunity to fill it themselves.

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