Bulgaria’s Parliament to Discuss Setting up Commission on Ataka Leader’s Immunity

Bulgarian lawmakers will discuss on Wednesday the creation of a parliamentary commission to consider the Chief Prosecutor’s request to waive the immunity from criminal prosecution of Volen Siderov, leader of nationalist Ataka party.

"We agreed to create such a commission, it should comprise two representatives of each parliamentary group plus one independent," Dimitar Glavchev, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, told reporters after consultations among the parties of the government coalition.  

GERB party, the biggest partner in the coalition, have proposed that MPs should have immunity from criminal prosecution only for what they say in parliament and the way they vote. A change to the constitution is needed to turn this proposal into law.

The proposal is open to all political parties represented in the 240-seat Bulgarian parliament, including Ataka, Glavchev said, according to BTA news agency.  

Ataka isn't part of the government coalition.

Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov asked Parliament on Monday to allow Siderov's detention on charges of hooliganism over scandals at the National Academy for Theater and Film Arts (NATFA) on Friday and Sunday, in which the MP and Ataka leader had been involved.

Siderov said on Tuesday that he didn’t agree to have his immunity lifted upon a request by the Chief Prosecutor. 

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