Reformist Bloc Promises Justice Reform, Balanced Budget

Reformist Bloc members (L to R) Petar Slavov, Petar Moskov, Radan Kanev, Grozdan Karadzhov give joint news conference in Sofia 23 September 2014. Photo BGNES

The Reformist Bloc says is targeting reform of the judiciary to guarantee independence of courts and free the justice system from corruption and political influence.

To ensure success of the justice system reform, the Reformist Bloc says in its programme for October 5 vote, it wants Bulgaria’s Chief Prosecutor to be elected by Parliament. It also will aim to introduce control of courts, prosecutors and the Supreme Judicial Council by Parliament to make the judiciary more accountable.

The Reformist Bloc, a union of five parties running in coalition with another two parties for seats in the next Parliament, is also targeting the following priorities in the justice and security system:
- Improving the performance of the Interior Ministry in collection of reliable evidence and rooting out corruption.
- Expanding the investigative functions of the Customs Agency and granting such functions to the Financial Supervision Commission and the National Revenue Agency.
- Introducing legislative changes aimed at improving the performance of security agencies and setting up a unified intelligence service.

In the area of economy and finances the Reformist Bloc is targeting increased efficiency of public finances’ management to ensure low levels of government debt, inflation and budget deficit that will allow Bulgaria to prepare for joining the Eurozone.

To achieve these goals, the party pledges to:
- Maintain low public debt in nominal terms.
- Achieve balanced state budgets and limit public expenditure to 38% of GDP (EU funds excluded).
- Keep the currency board and current tax levels.
- Work for achieving Bulgaria’s membership of the European banking union.
- Improve the business climate through reducing the administrative burden and encouraging foreign investment in Bulgaria.
- Introduce economic incentives for exporters and companies creating innovative products.
- Introduce participation in procurement deals on an entirely electronic basis to boost transparency and ensure equal degree of access to all participants.
- Work for liberalization of the energy market and sustainable development of modern energy infrastructure, lower energy consumption and increased energy efficiency of Bulgarian businesses and households.

Foreign policy goals include:
- Active participation of Bulgaria in the decision making process in the EU.
- Mobilizing all Bulgarian diplomatic resources for achieving the country’s immediate entry into the EU’s borderless Schengen zone.
- Defending and supporting the interests of Bulgarian national minorities abroad.

Goals in the defence area include:
- Modernization of Bulgarian Armed Forces’ arms and equipment.
- Concluding procurement deals for the army without intermediaries other than the respective authorized EU and NATO agencies with the aim of rooting out corruption.
- Making maximum use of the scientific and production potential of Bulgarian organizations involved in developing, producing and procuring defence equipment to Bulgaria and its NATO allies.

The Reformist Bloc says it is targeting elimination of political interference in the work of state administration bodies through:
- Introduction of universal rules for appointing officials at various levels of government.
- Setting up an independent regulator overseeing appointments of state administration officials.
- Introduction of integrated and transparent electronic government on central and regional level with the aim of reducing corruption as well as making administrative services for individuals and businesses cheaper and faster.

In the area of regional development the Reformist Bloc is targeting increased financial decentralization through transfer of more powers from the central government to local governments.

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