| Author (Person) | Cronin, David |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.12, No.12, 30.3.06 |
| Publication Date | 30/03/2006 |
| Content Type | News |
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By David Cronin Date: 30/03/06 Bulgaria's Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev has taken issue with a new report claiming that corruption is rising in his country. The Sofia-based Centre for the Study of Democracy last week published a study saying that although bribery in Bulgarian politics fell in 1998-2004, "alarming indications of increased numbers of corrupt transactions have been identified" over the past 18 months. According to the organisation, political parties channelled 320-370 million leva (EUR 163-189m) of state money to companies which then paid money into party coffers during 2005. Its study alleged that the "institutionalisation" of corruption was allowing criminal gangs to leverage their influence over political and economic affairs, as well as to launder money. But Stanishev told European Voice that "corruption in the public administration has been lowered". The European Commission is to present a report in May assessing whether Bulgaria and neighbouring Romania are ready to join the EU, as they hope, in January 2007, or if their accession should be delayed by one year. Olli Rehn, the enlargement commissioner, and MEPs have complained that no high-level official has yet been convicted in Bulgaria and that the authorities have dithered over arresting suspects in high-profile murder cases. Stanishev said that both government ministries and the general prosecutor had "achieved quite a lot" in recent investigations against organised crime and corruption and that "quite concrete results" can be expected. He pointed to the prosecution of alleged gang leaders Krassimir and Nikolay Marinovi as an example of the progress being made. Known as the 'Marguin brothers', they became notorious in the 1990s for their involvement in turf wars between rival gangsters. They were arrested as part of Operation Respect, a crackdown on crime launched in response to the murder of a banker. They are being tried on charges relating to the murder of three individuals, including former foreign minister Lyubomir Gotsev and entrepreneur Nikola Damyanov. Stanishev also referred to a new law being prepared in Bulgaria, designed to counteract the perception that politicians can accept bribes without fear of repercussions. Once the law is placed on the national statute books, "Bulgarian members of parliament will be among the least protected parliamentarians in Europe", he said. New laws on concessions to business and improving transparency in public procurement are being prepared too, he added. These follow a 2005 controversy over a EUR 720m highway deal, which was awarded without a tender. Stanishev held talks with Rehn last Friday (24 March) over amendments to Bulgaria's constitution dealing with the powers of the judiciary recently approved by the national parliament. The Commission is concerned that the changes could compromise judicial independence. They would allow parliament, acting with a two-thirds majority, to cut short the terms of Supreme Court judges. Comments by Bulgaria's Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev on a new report claiming that corruption was rising in his country. The Sofia-based Centre for the Study of Democracy published a study saying that although bribery in Bulgarian politics fell in 1998-2004, 'alarming indications of increased numbers of corrupt transactions have been identified' over the past 18 months. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Countries / Regions | Bulgaria |
