Bulgarian Govt Backtracks on Lifting Full Smoking Ban

Bulgaria’s Socialist-led government appears to have backtracked on its intention to scrap the existing full smoking ban in enclosed public spaces.

Health Minister Tanya Andreeva has told the Sega daily that Socialist MPs have made up their minds about revoking the ban.

“I believe their stances have changed,” Andreeva said.

She told the newspaper that she convinced the lawmakers that lifting the ban would be “unwise.”

Bulgarian Socialist Party MP Martin Zahariev, who spoke in favor of lifting the full smoking ban just a few weeks ago, has also told Sega that the move is not on the agenda.

“I have just returned from London. Nobody smokes there and it is really pleasant,” he said.

However, another Socialist MP, Krasimir Murdzhev, has told Radio Focus that talks on lifting the full smoking ban have been postponed, but not canceled.

The full smoking ban in enclosed public spaces was introduced by the previous center-right government in June 2012.

Massive protests have called for the resignation of Bulgarian PM Plamen Oresharski’s government for over three weeks now.

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