Политика

In Velingrad, there is almost no practice of organizing public discussions of draft laws. This status quo was changed by the blue deputies Ekaterina Mihaylova and Panayot Lyakov, after whose idea on April 26 in the hall of the Business Center was held a discussion of one of the draft laws for the ombudsman (see box).
The audience in the hall was mostly leaders, members and supporters of ODF plus councilors Asim Adem (DPS) and Dimitar Mechev (independent) and municipal officials. The meeting was opened by UDF Chairman Dr. Tsvetan Dafov, who stressed that the discussion was organized by the proposers of the draft law of the UDF and therefore MPs from the other political forces were not invited.
The idea of an ombudsman was substantiated by Ekaterina Mihailova. She presented the draft law submitted by the UDF and specified that there were two other projects - of Coalition for Bulgaria and of the MP Emil Koshlukov from the NDSV. Distinctive for the ODF project is that it is actually made by the Center for the Study of Democracy and is an example of successful partnership with NGOs. Ms. Mihailova stressed that the Ombudsman is not a "Complaints Bureau", but his strength is in the authority and moral request. Under this law, no political disputes are needed, the institution is fictional and working, it is important not to choose the comfortable person, but to seek a consensus and very authoritative figure.
We want this institution to become popular in Bulgaria because it supports civil society, added Panayot Lyakov. The Ombusman intervenes in arbitrariness on the part of the administration, smooths out conflicts, mediates to solve them, captures trends in society. Mr. Lyakov criticised the draft law of the NMSS, according to which the Ombdusman is a state body. If this is accepted, he will be subject to authority, and this makes his existence meaningless.
Mr. Lyakov commented as a negative in the work of the majority the rejection "of stubbornness" of the ODF bill on equal rights for men and women. The already adopted law on classified information he described as a rough blow to civil society, which for the time being does not seem to react, but will soon feel how its rights and freedoms are affected. The MP reported that the ODF had submitted a bill to the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency the same day to revoke the temporary status. Our law will guarantee the political independence of the national news agency, which the NMSS is trying to turn into a government agency, P said. Lyakov.
The latest development around the topic of dossiers was also debated. Ekaterina Mihailova recalled that the UDF asked President G. Parvanov to veto, because if the files are state secret, this opens up a great market of information. She admitted that during her reign the UDF also made a mistake with not opening all the files, and the reason was the great resistance.
The answer of the Minister of the Interior G. Petkanov during parliamentary scrutiny the same day. On a topical issue by P. Lyakov the Minister ensures that the Ministry of Interior has taken all measures and will protect the security of the mayor of Velingrad and his family. There is no policy in the issue, it is about the mayor's institution, stressed the MP. According to him, there are informants in the police station of the Ministry of Interior - Velingrad, who are in contact with criminal groups - they should be exposed and the links cut. From what was said in parliament, it is clear that the Interior Minister knows about the difficult situation in Velingrad, the Interior Ministry is taking measures, there are signs of a slight positive trend, but we will continue to monitor the situation, promised P. Lyakov..
Elena Baeva