site.btaParliament Overrides Presidential Veto on Amendments, Supplements to State Property Act

The National Assembly on Thursday overrode the President's veto on provisions of the amendments and supplements to the State Property Act. The MPs supported the legislative changes, with 172 MPs voting in favor, 46 against, and no abstentions. Since there were more than 121 votes in favor, the president's veto was overturned.

MPs from GERB-UDF, Movement for Rights and Freedoms - New Beginning, and There Is Such a People supported the amendments together with three independent MPs, while 46 representatives of Continue the Change, Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh) and Velichie voted against them. Vazrazhdane did not take part in the vote. 

MECh MP Hristo Rastashki was the only speaker before the vote. He said that the party would not support this bill and fully supported the President's veto. "We even believe that it is not complete and that more things could be added, because when laws are passed, it is very important to consider the purpose for which these laws are being passed," Rastashki said. He described the bill as "perhaps the largest privatization since 1996".

On March 31, Parliament passed the amendments on second reading with the votes of GERB-UDF, Movement for Rights and Freedoms - New Beginning, BSP - United Left, There Is Such a People, and two independent MPs. The remaining political entities – Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria, Vazrazhdane, Alliance for Rights and Freedoms, MECh, and Velichie did not participate in the vote. The President's veto came on August 8.

According to the adopted texts, separate parts of commercial companies' property with more than 50% state participation in the capital can be sold by electronic auction. The amendments also change provisions in other laws.

According to the amended Medical-Treatment Facilities Act, limited property rights may be established – in accordance with the State Property Act – in favour of state-owned medical treatment facilities for the needs of medical activities and patient services, without an auction or competition.

Amendments to the Investment Promotion Act were also adopted. The National Assembly voted that for the implementation of priority investment projects of national or regional significance and for investment proposals that are designated as sites of national significance by an act of the Council of Ministers and are sites of strategic importance under the Environment Protection Act, as well as for industrial parks of strategic importance under the Industrial Park Act, central and territorial executive authorities shall perform administrative services or make decisions under the Environment Protection Act and to authorize/approve the implementation of the same investment projects under a special law in terms one-half shorter than those provided for in the relevant legal act.

With the amendments to the State Property Act, it was also decided that the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC), and not the administrative court of the location of the property, would be the competent court for appeals against decisions of the Council of Ministers in cases of compulsory purchase of privately owned properties and parts of properties intended for the construction of national facilities. The Supreme Judicial Council shall provide the SAC with the required number of judges by the start of 2026.