Bulgaria’s President Vetoes the Anti-Corruption Act

Bulgaria’s President Rоumen Radev returned the Law for Counteracting Corruption and Forfeiture of the Unlawfully Acquired Аssets for a new discussion in the National Assembly, contesting it in principle and in its entirety, BTA reported on 2nd of January.

According to the head of state, the counteraction of corruption can not be limited to the measures set out in the adopted law. These measures, although necessary, are not enough to effectively counteract corruption as the public expects.

"Corruption is a multi-dimensional negative phenomenon and private economic interests use it to take control of key levers of State governance, exerting an impact on decision-making processes for their own benefit through unlawful and often covert forms of pressure or influence. Corruption curbs fundamental civil rights and freedoms, erodes confidence in the State, impedes economic development and investments, and steals from the prosperity of the nation," the reasoning of the veto reads as quoted by BTA.

The reasoning for the veto argues that the law is essentially inconsistent with the objective it sets: effective countering of corruption, as well as it deviates from fundamental principles of the Constitution and international treaties to which Bulgaria in a party, the statement says.

source: BTA