BULGARIA’S PARLIAMENT ADOPTED THE NEW ANTICORRUPTION DRAFT LAW AT FIRST READING

Bulgaria’s Parliament adopted the new anticorruption draft law at first reading on 30th of June.

130 MPs voted in favour, 28 voted against and 13 abstained.

The opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party and the nationalist Ataka did not support the draft on the grounds it was humiliating and might become a bat for political persecution. ABC party were skeptical that the anticorruption law would eradicate the problem and abstained from voting.

It was passed in principle with the votes of GERB, the Reformist Bloc, the Patriotic Front, the Bulgarian Democratic Centre - Popular Union and two independents. This time, these parliamentary groups decided to stand behind the law in principle, but with the provision that it would be significantly amended between first and second reading.