Bulgarian MPs Find 30 Conflict of Interest Cases in 1 Year

Filip Zlatanov, Chair of the Anti-Corruption, Conflict of Interests and Parliamentary Ethics Committee. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's Anti-Corruption, Conflict of Interests and Parliamentary Ethics Committee has uncovered over 30 cases of conflict of interest in its first year of operation, according to Filip Zlatanov, Chair of the watchdog.

Reporting on the committee's activity on Monday, he noted that 98% of the conflict-of-interest decisions were being appealed, with court proceedings lasting over a year.

Zlatanov explained that no penal ruling had yet been issued on any of the appealed cases.

He announced that the only decision that had not been appealed pointed to a case of conflict of interest involving Eli Petrova, Director of the Bozhentsi architectural reserve near Gabrovo, who would be removed from office.

Zlatanov informed that the most common cases of conflict of interest involved public procurement procedures, disposal of property to the benefit of companies owned by relatives or partners and appointment of relatives at certain posts.

He said that the most flagrant violations of the Conflict of Interest Prevention and Disclosure Act occurred in smaller towns and villages.

The Chair of the watchdog noted that rulings of the first-instance courts were in place on seven of the appealed cases, adding that the decisions could be appealed before the Supreme Administrative Court (VAS).

Zlatanov called for shorter proceedings to speed up the issuance of penal rulings.