site.btaCC Chair Vasilev: Signatures for Anti-Corruption Commission Chair Slavchev's Resignation Have Been Collected

Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) MP Assen Vassilev told journalists in Parliament on Friday that the Anti-Corruption Commission had not conducted a proper investigation and had not interviewed all the witnesses in the cases against Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev and former Sofia deputy mayor Nikola Barbutov. He added that signatures had been collected for the resignation of its chair, Anton Slavchev.

"We have assurances that our colleagues in the opposition will sign. Eighty signatures are needed for the resignation request to be submitted to the chamber", Vassilev said. "Slavchev cannot lead the commission impartially or professionally, and therefore must be removed as its head", the MP added.

Vassilev also said that, as stated in the Recovery and Resilience Plan, it is best for the commission not to have political leadership, since this is the reason that the European Commission withheld funds intended for the plan.

CC-DB Deputy Floor Leader Bozhidar Bozhanov added that if the Anti-Corruption Commission were to work as intended, it would conduct investigations into corruption and be politically neutral. Bozhanov also commented on the proposed changes to the Penal Code made by the There Is Such a People parliamentary group, stating that he firmly opposes them due to the provisions for special intelligence measures. "When someone decides to publish information, they will be wiretapped to prevent them from doing so," he explained.

"People like Anton Slavchev will be able to eavesdrop on witnesses and threaten them. He will also have another reason to eavesdrop on and pressure journalists", Bozhanov said. "Citizens need to see who is behind Anton Slavchev - those in power are behind a man who threatens witnesses", the MP added.

Vassilev added: "There is Such a People did not register in the plenary hall because they did not want to be subject to the law protecting their nude photographs."