Sanctions Loom for Organizers of Bulgaria's GERB School Propaganda Event

Bulgaria's Education Minister Sergey Ignatov, says principals and school administrators could be fired over a student contest the public sees as a political propaganda event. Photo by BGNES

The Education Ministry has launched a probe in the school contest which stirred outrage in Bulgaria over accusations it had been a political propaganda event.

The information was announced Tuesday by Education Minister Sergey Ignatov, during his visit in the Black Sea city of Varna, saying some school principals and other administrators could be fired.

Students from the town of Peshtera took part in a contest to solve historical, logic and sports problems with teams receiving one word as prize for each successful solution. The final phrase ended reading "We Are GERB, We Are Stronger with You."

Ignatov says if the reports are correct, this is a violation of two laws – the Education Act and the Child Protection Act.

"There is also a moral violation – for the last 20 years, we Bulgarians fight to erase the totalitarian past, when politics embedded the education system. We cannot strike this fight now," the Minister pointed out.

The Executive Committee of the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, party, is going to conduct its own investigation in the case and make a decision during their next, regularly-scheduled meeting, GERB Member of the Parliament, Pavel Dimitrov, reiterated.

The Mayor of Peshtera already announced he has fired the organizer of the contest – the Head of the Municipal Committee for the Fight with anti-Social Activities.

GERB MP, Krasimira Simeonova, has issued an official apology to residents of the town of Peshtera over her involvement in the organization of the event. She declares she is assuming full responsibility, but says she would not leave the party over the blunder.

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