Bulgaria PM Pushes Through Lobbyist Bills to Benefit Allies - Opposition

At a series of rallies staged last year the scrap traders, who claim to work legally, called for a wide social participation in the preparation of a new law. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Bulgaria's prime minister stands behind a controversial bill, which is expected to deal a heavy blow to legal metal scrap dealers, the opposition says.

'The Waste Management bill aims to benefit only one company in the trade with ferrous and non-ferrous metals – Nadin company," Petar Kurumbashev, Socialist MP, fumed , referring to a well established scrap dealer, linked to the purchased bankrupt Bulgarian Kremikovtzi steel giant.

According to Kurumbashev the bills on waste management and forests have one and the same mastermind – Prime Minister Boyko Borisov himself.

"These bills are pushed through parliament in a bid to benefit one and the same economic grouping, and this is exactly how business is done in Bulgaria," he protested.

Bulgaria's metal scrap dealers have threatened to move businesses to neighboring Romania and Greece to escape the heavy blow they will be dealt by the new bill.

Moving bases abroad will allow the companies to steer clear of the ban on buying scrap of unclear origin and from individuals.

Representatives of scrap metal dealers and recycling companies claim that the new law will force many companies dealing with metal scrap to cease their activities.

They insist that the existing draft Waste Management Act, prepared by the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water, be instantly withdrawn.

The mandatory deployment of non-cash payments in scrap metal trade and the proposed 2013 ban on natural persons trading in black and colored metals were two key aspects of the draft Waste Management Act that drew the ire of the people from the sector.

At a series of rallies staged last year the scrap traders, who claim to work legally, called for a wide social participation in the preparation of a new law to favor the interests of Bulgarian society and the business sector that complies with the rule of law.

The metal dealers, who work legally, say they pay taxes and require the identity card of the person, who brings the metal to the shop. The name of the person is recorded in a registry, which can be checked by the authorities at any time.

Those who work illegally take everything, all the scrap is then sent to illegal foundries and thus formally legalized.

The ministry has justified the strict measures with the need to step up the combat against thefts of ferrous and nonferrous metals.

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