Bulgarian Socialists Go Ahead with Easing Smoking Ban

Bulgaria’s Socialist Party has moved to parliament an amendment to the Health Act to ease the full ban on smoking in public places in the country.

The draft amendment has been signed by nine Socialist members of parliament in a highly controversial move, believed to be orchestrated by people in sectors, hurt by the ban.

If passed, the restrictions would fall for night clubs, restaurants, cafes, bars, airports and casinos, provided they can designate special smoking areas.

The full smoking ban was introduced in June 2012 by the GERB government of former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

Spas Panchev, Deputy Chair of the parliamentary group of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, said last week that the full smoking ban in enclosed public places must be dropped before winter.

This sparked controversy and wide public debates on the issue. President Rosen Plevneliev has threatened to veto the amendments if they are passed in Parliament.

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