DEPUTY PM KUNEVA PRESENTS THE NEW ANTICORRUPTION DRAFT LAW TO BULGARIA’S PARLIAMENT

On 30th of June, Bulgaria’s Parliament discusses at first reading the new anti-corruption draft law, tabled by the Council of Ministers. The draft was presented to the plenary hall by Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva.

The new texts envisage the establishment of a single anticorruption body – the National bureau for prevention of corruption and confiscation of unlawfully acquired property. The bureau will unite the functions and powers of the existing Commission for Prevention and Ascertainment of Conflict of Interest, the Commission for confiscation of illegally acquired assets, the Centre for Prevention and Countering Corruption and Organised Crime and the unit in the National Audit Office in charge of accepting and checking property declarations. The management of the bureau will consist of a director and four deputy-directors, who will be elected by Parliament.

Kuneva said that the establishment of a single anticorruption body was in the basis of the new draft law. According to her, the bureau should be single, strong and accountable to the public and the National Assembly. Ensuring the independence of the bureau is very important, Kuneva noted. She proposed a working group to be set up between first and second reading of the draft. The working group should include MPs and experts, who will propose legal guarantees for the independence of the new anticorruption body.

The new texts propose to expand the scope of the declared circumstances in a single declaration covering the information for the property status of the persons and data for possible conflict of interest. The rules for declaring and checking the declared information are set out in details. The draft also foresees expansion of the circle of persons obliged to submit property declarations and the special rules for verifying the declared assets and interests of magistrates. The project provides fo an option to initiate proceedings as a result of whistleblowing and media publications. According to the proposers, the aim is to increase the importance of whistleblowing functions of the public and the media.

Kuneva explained that the issue of the so-called anonymous signals was one of the most sensitive. We heard fears of abuse, so let’s discuss them and propose the best option for guarantee, she said.