site.btaElka Bozhova Elected Chair of Commission for Protection against Discrimination

Elka Bozhova, nominated by the parliamentary group of GERB-UDF, was elected on Thursday by the National Assembly as chairperson of the Commission for Protection against Discrimination (CPD). This was done with 117 votes in favour, 57 against, and 23 abstentions.

Elena Cherneva-Markova, also nominated by GERB-UDF, was elected deputy chair by 119 votes in favour, 45 against, and 36 abstentions.

Baki Hyuseinov, nominated by BSP-United Left, was elected to the anti-discrimination body (116 votes in favour, 55 against, 27 abstentions), as well as Zlatina Kasarova-Dukova, candidate of GERB-UDF (120 votes in favour, 49 against, 34 abstentions) and Teodora Kamenova, nominated by TISP (118 votes in favour, 46 against, 34 abstentions).

The majority did not approve Eva Zhecheva as a member of the CPD. She had been nominated by CC-DB and was supported by 31 MPs, 113 voted against, and 46 abstained.

Neriman Paleva, nominated by DRF, did not get enough votes to be a member of the CPD (15 in favour, 113 against, 71 abstentions).

According to the Protection Against Discrimination Act, the term of office of the CPD is five years. The National Assembly appoints five of the nine members of the Commission, including the Chair and Vice-Chair, and the President appoints the remaining four.