site.btaIf Allegations Are Proven, Sofia Corruption Scandal Will Pose Serious Problem, Labour Minister Says

Labour and Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov (BSP-United Left) told journalists on Wednesday that if the allegations in the ongoing corruption scandal in Sofia are proven, this will be a serious problem. He said these are internal issues for the Continue the Change (CC) party, and “they should be discussed inside the party.” “The authorities should pronounce themselves on the situation if there is real evidence of wrongdoing,” Gutsanov said.

He was referring to аn investigation in Sofia Municipality on suspicion of corrupt practices involving the CC. On Monday, the mayors of the Sofia boroughs of Lyulin and Mladost and two members of the Sofia Municipal Council complained of being pressured by the top CC leadership and by a member of Mayor Vassil Terziev’s staff to manipulate public procurement procedures. On Tuesday, Deputy Mayor Nikola Barbutov was arrested after hours of police searches in the Sofia Municipality offices. On Wednesday, an audio recording was leaked to the media in which a voice, alleged to be Barbutov’s, speaks about how public procurement procedures are manipulated and how the CC receives kickbacks for that. CC co-leader Kiril Petkov tendered his resignation hours after the leak.