The MPs included five additional points in their agenda for July 18, including the election of an ombudsman, dariknews.bg reported.
There are six candidates - a record number so far. These are: Anton Stankov, Maria Mateva, Dzhema Grozdanova, Dimitar Margaritov, Maya Manolova and Velislava Delcheva.
One of the reasons for the growing number of candidates for the position of ombudsman is due to constitutional changes that expand the circle of people who can be appointed acting prime minister. According to the changes, the ombudsman or his deputy is also among the potential candidates.
Who are the candidates?
Anton Stankov has been nominated as Ombudsman by the “Association Bulgarian School of Politics Dimitar Panitsa“. He is a former Minister of Justice in the “Saxe-Coburg-Gotha“ cabinet.
The institution of the Ombudsman faces many challenges, including how to be more mobile and accessible to people. This was stated by Anton Stankov, candidate for Public Defender, during today's hearing in the parliamentary Committee on Direct Participation of Citizens, Complaints and Interaction with Civil Society. According to him, the institution of the Ombudsman has already been established as a popular tool for the people.
The institution's approach does not imply the presence of executive powers, nor does it encroach on the powers of other bodies, Anton Stankov pointed out, adding that as a candidate he fully supports the principles of the institution.
I will form a working group to create an Ombudsman's Code of Good Administrative Conduct and will rely on the work of the European Council for Good Administrative Conduct, he said. Stankov pointed out that the administration is obliged to comply with the issued recommendations and in this way support will be provided to the institutions to improve their work.
Among some of his priorities, Anton Stankov pointed out support for citizens in exercising their rights, access to justice and protection of consumer rights, as well as the rights of vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities.
I will work to protect the rights of people with disabilities, their right to benefit from measures that ensure their autonomy, social and professional integration and their participation in community life, said Stankov.
The “Bulgarian Red Cross“ has nominated Maria Mateva for the position of Commissioner for Privacy in Bulgaria. He is a second-term member of the Personal Data Protection Commission, elected from the MRF quota.
One of my goals as Ombudsman will be to restore the trust of Bulgarians in the public sector. This was said by Maria Mateva, a candidate for public defender, during today's hearing in the parliamentary Committee for Direct Participation of Citizens, Complaints and Interaction with Civil Society.
As an emphasis when presenting her priorities, Mateva also pointed out the improvement of public services and access to them, transparency in institutions and modernization of systems.
Ready and working products must be created to help citizens exercise their rights, Mateva said and emphasized that she will work to improve the work of the public sector in dealing with signals and protect children who submit signals.
My goals as ombudsman will be to ensure justice for citizens in their relations with the media sector, Mateva said and emphasized the need for reforms for social media and gaming platforms that would protect adolescents.
Dzhema Grozdanova was nominated by the “National Patients' Organization“. Grozdanova is a doctor. From 2009 to 2020, she was a member of parliament from GERB. Later, she was elected deputy chair of the party “Republicans for Bulgaria“.
My long-term task is the rights of children in their relationship with the judicial system and the introduction of modern juvenile justice. This was stated by the candidate for public defender Dzhema Grozdanova during today's hearing in the parliamentary Committee for Direct Participation of Citizens, Complaints and Interaction with Civil Society.
Grozdanova also emphasized the need for change in the system for combating antisocial behavior of minors, which, according to her, was issued back in 1996.
The Law on Diversion from Criminal Proceedings and Imposition of Educational Measures on Minors must be changed and finally adopted, and I hope that together we will succeed in doing so, said Grozdanova, emphasizing the need to create a National Information System on Violence against Children.
Grozdanova highlighted several areas of healthcare as her main priorities, such as care for mentally ill people, the new children's hospital and the lack of medicines.
The Bulgarian National Association “Active Consumers“ has nominated Dimitar Margaritov Yotov for Ombudsman. From 2015 to 2022, Dimitar Margaritov was Chairman of the Consumer Protection Commission and briefly Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry.
In recent years, the largest percentage of complaints addressed to the Ombudsman are about people's consumer rights. This was said by the candidate for Public Defender Dimitar Margaritov during today's hearing in the parliamentary Committee for Direct Participation of Citizens, Complaints and Interaction with Civil Society. Margaritov noted the importance of the Ombudsman as a mediator in such cases.
As part of his priorities, he indicated the care of children with special needs.
By presenting differentiated educational content, we will also be able to decide on a program for inclusive education, said Margaritov. He added that such a step would be useful to convince the institutions involved in this process that all children can understand the material being taught to them.
Young people with disabilities experience difficulties, especially in reaching the labor market, said Dimitar Margaritov. The so-called adapted employment is something that has certainly not been done much - I would make significant efforts in this direction, he pointed out.
Maya Manolova has been proposed for the position by 23 civil society organizations. She is a former member of parliament in several parliaments. From 2015 to 2019. is a national ombudsman.
It is not the people who should seek the ombudsman, but the ombudsman should be with the people, said Maya Manolova, candidate for public defender at today's hearing in the parliamentary Committee for Direct Participation of Citizens, Complaints and Interaction with Civil Society.
As a main priority in her candidacy, Manolova brought the work of the institution to the field. "Citizens expect the ombudsman to be on the field. With my team, we support protests and activities of initiative committees, we are also preparing bills - a law on private bankruptcy, on collection companies", said Maya Manolova and pointed out that the majority of these bills have already been submitted to the National Assembly.
She stressed the importance of the candidate knowing the work of the institution and the problems of citizens. "For the past year, the institution has been without an ombudsman and there is a need for someone who knows what the problems are", said Manolova. "In times of economic crisis, people need a strong, independent advocate. My team and I are doing exactly that - protecting rights", she explained.
Manolova also emphasized the place of the ombudsman as a significant and authoritative institution that enjoys enormous trust from Bulgarian citizens.
Velislava Delcheva was nominated by GERB-SDF MPs Rositsa Kirova and Anna Alexandrova. Delcheva is currently a state expert at the Ministry of Justice. From 2022 to early 2025. is the Bulgaria Coordinator of the USAID Rule of Law Program in Central Europe.
The wide range of problems with the economic, consumer and social rights of citizens remains a major problem, as is evident from the annual report of the Ombudsman institution. This was stated by the candidate for Public Defender Velislava Delcheva during the hearing in the Committee for Direct Participation of Citizens, Complaints and Interaction with Civil Society in the Parliament.
Delcheva also indicated that the problem with the rights of people from vulnerable groups is of particular importance for the Ombudsman institution.
If I am elected Ombudsman, I will, of course, commit to continuing what the people before me have done, said the candidate for Public Defender. I will continue active advocacy in support of a new law on Water and Sanitation - this is where the most violated rights are concentrated, such as access to drinking water at a reasonable price, Delcheva explained.
According to her, the reports submitted by people from vulnerable groups are not large, but it is precisely their vulnerability that suggests a violation of rights.
Among the highlights that Delcheva presented were the rights of children and the elderly. We all know that there is no concept for the child - I want such a new policy to give children in conflict a chance to receive adequate support with appropriate social services, she explained.
As a measure of support for her future activities, Delcheva indicated support for the opening of crisis centers and protected social services close to people. Currently, there are only 13 of these in the country, she explained.
On April 10, 2024 The powers of former Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva were terminated following her resignation in connection with her election as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights. Since then, the position of Ombudsman in Bulgaria has been vacant.
The procedural rules for the election of the Ombudsman were adopted by the Parliament on 13 February this year, with a deadline for proposals of 28 days. Nominations for the Ombudsman could be made by members of parliament, parliamentary groups and non-profit legal entities for the public benefit.
What does the Ombudsman do?
The institution of the Ombudsman in the Republic of Bulgaria was established in 2005. The Ombudsman is a public defender who promotes and protects human rights and fundamental freedoms. He is a high and independent constitutional body, which is elected by the National Assembly in conditions of publicity and transparency for a term of five years. The Ombudsman can be re-elected only once. The Ombudsman in his activities is subject only to the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria, the laws and international treaties to which the Republic of Bulgaria is a party.
The Ombudsman accepts and examines complaints and signals for violations of people's rights and freedoms; carries out inspections of the complaints and signals received; makes proposals and recommendations for the restoration of violated rights and freedoms to the relevant authorities and private entities; mediates between the administrative authorities and the affected persons to overcome the violations committed and reconciles their positions; protects the rights of children.
The Ombudsman also acts on his own initiative when he finds that the necessary conditions for the protection of citizens' rights and freedoms are not being created.
Chronology of the Ombudsmen of the Republic of Bulgaria
April 13, 2005 – October 20, 2010: Ginyo Ganev
First Ombudsman of Bulgaria; known by the nickname "The Man-Parliament" due to his long-standing parliamentary activity.
October 20, 2010 – October 20, 2015: Konstantin Penchev
Continued efforts to strengthen the institution; focused on protecting citizens' rights and improving administrative services.
October 20, 2015 – September 4, 2019: Maya Manolova
Known for her active work to protect citizens' rights; her mandate was terminated on September 4, 2019 after she resigned.
September 4, 2019 – April 10, 2024: Diana Kovacheva
Known for her efforts to protect the rights of vulnerable groups and strengthen public trust in the institution; her mandate was terminated on April 10, 2024 after her election as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights.