site.btaUPDATED Progressive Bulgaria Pledges Support for Cabinet Programme, Calls for Judicial Reform

Progressive Bulgaria stands behind the Government’s programme and is ready to turn it into effective legislation, Progressive Bulgaria Floor Leader Petar Vitanov said on Wednesday in a declaration marking the start of the National Assembly’s new plenary season.

Among the priorities, he listed initial steps towards judicial reform and efforts to build broad consensus on a functioning new Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). "We extend a hand to everyone who is ashamed of the actions of the current SJC," Vitanov said.

He also said the group would seek to end the practice of patients having to make constant additional payments, require private hospitals using public funds to comply with the Public Procurement Act, and review the level of concession fees.

"We are beginning an optimization of the state administration within the deadlines set by the Prime Minister," Vitanov added.

"We are reducing the number of members on the boards of state-owned enterprises and drastically cutting their remuneration. We are preparing specific legislation to curb abuses by debt collection companies and protect citizens from unlawful pressure," Vitanov said.

He said Progressive Bulgaria fully supports the Government’s measures to increase transparency in the pricing of essential goods, as well as the Interior Ministry’s uncompromising fight against high-level corruption.

"I promise you that Progressive Bulgaria will not allow lobbyist provisions disguised as false concern or used for party propaganda ahead of the elections," Vitanov said.

He recalled that at the end of the previous session the group had thanked the opposition for its criticism. "We drafted the laws for which you had neither the will nor the desire, made up for lost time, including with the extremely difficult budget, and began implementing some important reforms, including changes to electoral legislation," he said.

According to Vitanov, some of the opposition’s priorities lie elsewhere. "Some of you are subordinating your actions entirely to the upcoming presidential elections," he said.

"In recent months, trolls linked to some political parties have deprived Bulgarians of the opportunity to communicate freely on social media and turned discussions into generators of hatred for partisan purposes. But trolls do not vote, and that will become clear in the October elections," Vitanov said.

Vitanov added that Europe is experiencing a severe drought affecting the energy security of the entire region. He said the critical drop in Danube water levels, combined with volatility on international fuel markets, had created a serious risk of an artificial increase in electricity prices. "Bulgaria does not need pre-election theatre in Parliament, but stable protection for household consumers and the economy," he said.