site.btaParliament to Elect Deputy Ombudsman of Bulgaria

The election of a Deputy Ombudsman is included in the weekly work programme of the National Assembly, published on the legislative body's website. On August 18, Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva submitted Maria Filipova’s nomination for Deputy Ombudsman to the National Assembly. Filipova received the highest score - 15 points - during the hearing before the Deputy Ombudsman Evaluation Committee.

In a letter to Rositsa Kirova, Chair of the parliamentary Committee on Direct Participation of Citizens, Citizens' Complaints and Interaction with Civil Society, Delcheva points out that Filipova has many years of professional experience in the field of human rights as a practicing lawyer, junior and senior expert at the Ministry of Justice, deputy chair of the Financial Supervision Commission, and chair of the Consumer Protection Commission.  

At a hearing before the Committee on Direct Participation of Citizens on September 2, Filipova said her priorities would include making the Ombudsman institution more accessible to the public, establishing mobile citizen consultations, launching a national consumer helpline, strengthening collaboration with the legislative and executive branches, and working with Ombudsman Delcheva in the field of juvenile justice.

The Deputy Ombudsman is among the officials from whom the President may choose a caretaker Prime Minister. According to the Constitution, the President may appoint a caretaker Prime Minister from among the Chairperson of the National Assembly, the Governor or Deputy Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank, the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson of the National Audit Office, and the Ombudsman or their deputy.