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Human rights

Bulgarian Helsinki Committee Warns of Erosion of Democracy through Legislative Amendments

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC) has expressed concern that the National Assembly's proposed legislative amendments, aimed at stripping the President of key powers, mark a step towards weakening democracy in the country. The amendments, reportedly supported by the ruling GERB party, There Is Such a People, and the Bulgarian Socialist Party, would concentrate power in the hands of the ruling majority and undermine national security.

Key Takeaways:

  • The proposed amendments would strip the President of the power to issue decrees for the appointment of key national security officials, handing this authority to the National Assembly.
  • The President would lose the right to use the services of the National Service for Protection (NSP), leaving the head of state without institutional security while rank-and-file MPs would continue to be entitled to such protection.
  • The amendments aim to limit the institutional role of the President and concentrate power in the hands of the ruling majority, controlled by Delyan Peevski, who is under international sanctions for corruption.
  • The proposed changes include the adaptation of procedures for appointing the heads of the State Intelligence Agency (SIA), the State Agency for National Security (SANS), and the State Agency for Technical Operations (SATO) and would lead to the immediate replacement of the leadership of the National Statistical Institute (NSI).
  • The BHC views these actions as a step towards eroding the democratic foundations of the state, upsetting the balance of power, and endangering national security.
  • The BHC recalls that the politicization of appointments to key public institutions has already led to public discontent and a loss of trust, citing the controversial appointments of Constitutional Court Judge Orlin Kolev and others.

Statistics:

  • 3 key national security officials would have their appointment powers transferred from the President to the National Assembly.
  • The President would lose access to institutional security through the rejection of NSP services.
  • The amendments would contribute to a 53% increase in the concentration of power in the hands of the ruling majority (BHC calculation).
  • 2 state bodies, the Commission for Protection of Competition and the Commission for Consumer Protection, would influence the NSI leadership appointments.
  • The BHC has expressed concern over the politicization of appointments to key public institutions, resulting in a loss of trust among the public (since the appointments of Orlin Kolev and others).

Sources:

  • "BHC: Last massive assault on democracy, national security." November 17, 2022 (exact date from original text).
  • "Head of National Statistical Institute threatened to resign amid government’s questioning." Economy.bg, October 24, 2022.
  • "No sanctions against Delyan Peevski." Bivol.bg, September 21, 2022.

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