Bulgarian Lawmakers Return to Work to Vote Budget Update

Bulgarian MPs are to vote on first reading Thursday the budget actualization. File photo

Bulgarian lawmakers are returning to work Thursday to vote on the draft budget 2013 update on first reading.

The Members of the Parliament will also examine an account of the activities of the Commission on Prevention and Ascertainment of Conflict of Interest (CPACI); will vote on 3 drafts for amending the Penal Code and debate amendments to the Employment Encouragement Act.

The MPs had to postpone their sitting on Wednesday in the aftermath of clashes between riot police and anti-government protesters. The latter sat on the pavement and erected barricades near the Parliament late Tuesday into Wednesday to prevent lawmakers and ministers discussing in 3 committees the budget update from leaving the building. Media reporters inside also ended up being under siege.

Some 10 people were injured, but no serious injuries were reported.

This prompted the Speaker of the Parliament, Mihail Mikov, to call on colleagues to not show up for work on Wednesday for safety reasons.

The budget actualization provides for a new loan in the amount of BGN 1 B to be used as a buffer for the fiscal reserve in 2014, when Bulgaria must make new payments on its foreign debt. Other funds will be slated for the overdue money for the business and for social measures.

The new budget foresees a deficit of 2% from the Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

Wednesday evening was also the first time when lawmakers from the formerly-ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB, returned to the Parliament to participate in the budget update debates after their leader and former Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, ordered them to not attend plenary hall sittings.

Thursday marks day 42 in Bulgaria of protests against the Socialists-endorsed Cabinet of Prime Minister, Plamen Oresharski.

After the clashes Tuesday, the rally on day 41st (Wednesday) was once again peaceful.

The series of rallies was triggered by the appointment of notorious media mogul Delyan Peevski as Chair of the State Agency for National Security (DANS) back on June 14, but the protesters were not appeased by the subsequent cancellation of the decision and went on to demand the resignation of the Socialist-led cabinet over ties with oligarchs.

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