site.btaParliament Opens Procedure for Election of National Social Security Institute Governor and Deputy Governor

Parliament on Wednesday adopted rules for nominations of candidates for governor and deputy governor of the National Social Insurance Institute (NSSI) and for the election procedure by a vote of 117- 56, with ten abstentions.

The rules were supported by GERB-UDF, MRF-New Beginning, BSP-United Left, Democracy, Rights and Freedoms, and There is Such a Nation, and one independent MP. Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria voted against and abstained. Also voting against were Vazrazhdane, MECh and Velichie.

The procedure is opened in connection with the need to elect a new governor and deputy governor of the NSSI after the tenure of Ivaylo Ivanov and Vesela Karaivanova expired on September 19 2021 and on July 21 2024, respectively.

Nominations for the governor and deputy governor of the National Social Security Institute will be made by MPs within 14 days of the adoption of the rules.

A proposal by Georgi Hrisimirov of Vazrazhdane for a requirement for candidates to have a university degree in specific fields, namely economics, law, public administration and management and social activities, and a minimum of five years of professional experience in the NSSI system and a in a managerial position each, was rejected.

The proposed rules are extremely lax and allow for a wide choice of candidates, Hrisimirov argued. A person with a sports education could technically become the governor of the NSSI, he said.