From the press center of "We continue the change" distributed the "gentleman's letter", sent to GERB, in which they insist that the three anti-corruption laws under PVU be adopted by the end of this parliament. We remind you that shortly after the party's statement yesterday, GERB refused a similar type of dialogue.
Here is what the letter says:
"Dear colleagues from GERB,
As you know, already in October last year, the National Assembly was fully prepared to adopt three legislative acts, which are necessary for Bulgaria to receive the second payment under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan. The continued postponement and reluctance to adopt these acts puts at risk the entry of BGN 10 billion of European funds into the Bulgarian economy, slows down economic growth and the improvement of various spheres of Bulgarian life.
1. Law on the Protection of Whistleblowers or Publicly Disclosing Information on Violations (submitted to the 49th National Assembly on September 25, 2023 and to the 50th National Assembly on June 21, 2024).
With this law, we protect people who report corruption. What GERB wanted was for the law to apply to reports of crimes committed after March 2021 so as not to affect GERB's tenure. However, the European Commission has categorically emphasized that such restrictions are unacceptable. That is why the introduced bill also provides protection to persons reporting corruption practices before 2021.
2. Law on Insolvency of Natural Persons (introduced in the 48th National Assembly on November 4, 2022, in the 49th National Assembly on April 13, 2023 and in the 50th National Assembly on July 25, 2024).
After more than 12 years of postponement, in the previous National Assembly this draft law was adopted in the first reading and a working group of MPs and experts from all interested parties worked for more than 5 months on its completion. However, a second reading vote was not reached and Bulgaria remained the only country in the EU without such a law. We know that the GERB party had conversations with collectors, as well as with other participants in the financial markets, whose interests are affected by the bill. However, it is time to realize the reality - there are many conscientious people in Bulgaria who are unable to pay their loans and debts and need a second chance. Bulgarian citizens cannot be harassed by collection companies for life, especially if they really have no way to pay their debts. This law is important not only to get the money from Europe, but also to give many Bulgarian citizens the opportunity to have a second chance when they were in good faith, but for various reasons did not manage to earn enough money to cover their expenses for life.
3. Rules for filling the composition of the Anti-Corruption Commission (submitted to the 48th National Assembly on October 19, 2022, to the 49th National Assembly on April 26, 2023 and to the 50th National Assembly on June 28, 2024 .).
There is no way to stop theft and corruption in Bulgaria if we do not have a working anti-corruption body with an independent leadership that is transparently appointed. We have already requested the resignation of the current I.F. chairman Anton Slavchev, whose mandate has expired, due to the inefficient work of the commission and its political use. It is not normal that Bulgaria has the most persons sanctioned under the global "Magnitsky" law. for corruption, and not a single person convicted of corruption in our country. We assume that friendly relations with Mr. Peevski and Mr. Goranov may stop you from moving these rules (which for the last 2 months have not even been distributed to the line committee in the National Assembly), but the second and subsequent payments totaling 10 billion BGN for Bulgarian citizens depend on the adoption of these rules, approved and developed together with the European Commission.
Colleagues, please inform us whether you intend to adopt these legislative acts, which we have been commenting on for nearly a year and a half. If we do not accept them, the funds are blocked for: the buildings approved for rehabilitation; new equipment in hospitals; renovations and new offices in over 100 schools; the helicopters for emergency medical assistance; fast trains for BDZ; the construction of industrial parks; business support for the purchase of new machines and many other projects needed by Bulgaria for over BGN 10 billion.
The alternative is to announce to Bulgarian citizens and Bulgarian businesses that these BGN 10 billion will not be invested in the economy and people in Bulgaria - and this is the price Bulgaria will pay to maintain its corrupt practices.
We trust that many of you see not only the need for their acceptance, but also understand the harm of the enormous delay with which we move.
We are addressing you first, as the movement of the acts depends on the chairmen of the leading committees and the chairperson of the National Assembly, who are from GERB
We hope to have a result in the coming days.
Sincerely,
Executive Board
“We Continue the Change“