Bulgarian Rightists Seek Resignation of Anti-Discrimination Watchdog Chair

UDF Chair Martin Dimitrov has urged MPs to nominate a legitimate anti-discrimination watchdog. Photo by BGNES

The right-wing Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) has called for the resignation of Kemal Eyup, Chair of the Commission for Protection against Discrimination (CPD), saying that his term in office expired over an year ago.

"At present, Bulgaria has no Commission for Protection against Discrimination. The terms in office of Eyup and the other members of the watchdog have expired, which places a question mark over the legality of all acts of the CPD. Their term in office expired on April 13, 2011. One year after that, they keep working beyond the rules," UDF Chair Martin Dimitrov argued.

"There are two decisions of the Constitutional Court, Decision #1 from 2006 and Decision #8 from 2005, both of which clearly state that such bodies cannot function and make decisions beyond their terms in office. It's the same as if a former MP came to Parliament and started voting," Dimitrov added.

The UDF leader implied that Eyup should be made to return the payments he received after his term in office expired.

He also hinted that there had been an arrangement between Prime Minister Borisov and ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) to leave Kemal Eyup and the other representatives of the former three-way coalition government on their jobs past their terms in office.

Dimitrov urged MPs to nominate a legitimate anti-discrimination watchdog.

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