Opposition BSP Set Condition for Supporting GERB-Initated Constitutional Changes

The opposition Bulgarian Sociliast Party (BSP) set conditions for supporting GERB’s proposals for Constitutional amendments to abolish the statutory limitation period for the prosecution of privatisation-related crimes. They insist on talks that will include other topics of the transition period such as mass privatisation, concessions and strong-arm groupings that were active during the transition period.

GERB have replied they are ready to start talks with the opposition on their suggestions tomorrow, 15^th of November.

BSP said that the crimes of the transition must be punished. They described GERB-initiated constitutional changes as “halfway proposal”.

“We want the whole truth on the table”, BSP leader Kornelia Ninova said.

At a news conference on 14^th of November, GERB said they were ready even tomorrow to form a team and to write down all proposals of all parliamentary groups for amendements to the Constitution. In response to Ninova's statement, GERB MP Desislava Atanassova said that GERB leader Boyko Borissov had authorized her to say that the party "will take part in any initiative, on any occasion and on all topics that the BSP proposes to be addressed by a constitutional amendment."

BSP leader Kornelia Ninova again demanded the resignations of Deputy Prime Minister Valeri Simeonov and Interior Minister Valentin Radev over problems with border protection. The step was prompted by a documentary made by Left MP Elena Yoncheva and screened on 13^th of November which Ninova sees as evidence of corruption and trafficking of illegal migrants despite the fence built along Bulgaria’s border with Turkey.

“This is corruption and organized trafficking (of migrants), which enjoys protection from the high echelons of power. Therefore, we want the immediate resignation of Interior Minister Radev and Deputy PM Valeri Simeonov”, Ninova said.

GERB did not see any grounds for resignations.

”We stand firmly behind the actions of Minister Valentin Radev and Deputy Prime Minister Valeri Simeonov. We reject the resignation request we have heard from the opposition leader”, Danail Kirilov from GERB said.

GERB also pointed out that at the time of filming Elena Yoncheva's documentary, which shows parts of the fence, it had not yet been handed over to the Border Police as a completed project.