Special Tribunal Debated in Bulgarian Parliament

The Members of the Bulgarian Parliament are discussing Wednesday amendments in the Penal Code and the Interior Affairs Act. File photo

The Members of the Bulgarian Parliament are discussing Wednesday, at first reading, the controversial special tribunal, expected to deal speedily with high profile organized crime and corruption cases.

Debates on the new Penal Code are included in the Parliament's agenda.

The amendments, submitted by the Chair of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, Iskra Fidosova, from the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party are supported by 115 Members of the Parliament. The new tribunal would try high-profile criminal cases and cases of abuse of EU Funds and corruption involving magistrates, politicians – on national and local level, and high-ranking State servants.

The new Bulgarian tribunal would be able to request and issue warrants for the use of special surveillance devices. It would hold uninterrupted sessions on about 250 – 300 cases per year. The appeals would go to the Supreme Court of Cassations.

If the Bill passes in the Parliament, the new court must begin functioning in January, 2011.

The MPs will also discuss Wednesday the amendments to the Interior Affairs Act which provide for merging firefighters services with the Civil Defense in one directorate.

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