Tensions in Parliament: WCC-DB asks MRF MP Delyan Peevski to leave the Committee on Constitutional Affairs

“We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria” coalition asked MP Delyan Peevski of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) to leave the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, which is expected to elaborate changes to the constitution, just a day after he was elected to it yesterday (June 7).

MRF responded that there would be no changes and the amendments to the Constitution would be made with the participation of MP Peevski because larger part of the MRF draft for constitutional amendments was drawn up by him.

There was a debate in Parliament on the occasion of another scandal from yesterday.

Without mentioning names, Hristo Ivanov of “Democratic Bulgaria” said that the matter of the amendments to the Constitution is extremely fragile and because of that they should not focus on one or two personalities. He gave an example of what is happening in the Supreme Judicial Council - that those who "installed" Ivan Geshev in the post (of Prosecutor General) have to vote today for his removal.

MRF responded that they will not make any changes in this committee, that Peevski remains in it, the motive being that he has drafted most of the constitutional changes that are proposed - the Supreme Judicial Council to be divided into two - judicial and prosecutorial, the Prosecutor General, the two heads of higher courts and the Minister of Justice not to participate in the supreme judicial councils, and the Prosecutor General to have only methodological functions.

Yesterday we witnessed the constitutional committee being filled and let me share my view - it did not go well. One parliamentary group has said it is approaching this issue in jest, another is in denial that its non-participation made this election happen. Colleagues from GERB do not know if this is how they imagine the construction of majorities – something like a buffet", said Hristo Ivanov, WCC-DB.

"And now what? We have a basic consensus to change the constitution, and MRF submitted a draft a year and a half ago. And do you know who is the basis for the development of this draft? Mr. Peevski is and Mr. Peevski will be in this committee, because he did this analysis with our specialists," added Yordan Tsonev, of MRF.

“I don't understand what is shameful in Mr Peevski being in your committee when you went on your feet to beg him, “ Toshko Yordanov of “There is Such a People” said.

"There is another way to form a constitutional majority. The second option is a constitutional majority with the third political force, which is much more logical. And that is "Rvazrazhdane." Even more logical in view of the fact that our theses are now finding confirmation. WCC-DB are starting to talk and think like us from "Vazrazhdane", said Kostadin Kostadinov.

"The parallel state is regrouping in order to survive and continue to rule. This is happening because an absolutely unnatural political alliance has been created, but probably a natural economic and interest alliance. Between the mutually denying GERB-UDF and WCC-DB, and somehow quite illogically MRF joined this alliance," said BSP leader, Kornelia Ninova.

"Mr Ivanov should understand this - it is our right to decide who participates in the committe and if they want to do constitutional reform so it will be. They cannot be moral judges of anyone, plus there are many cases in the past that show that they cannot be moral judges," Delyan Peevski of MRF said.

WCC-DB proposes to increase the sanctions for misbehaviour and aggression in the plenary chamber.

"Amendments should be made to the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, amendments that would increase the sanctions for behaviour that is unacceptable according to the rules under which we have agreed to work in this National Assembly, sanctions that would limit the outright vulgarity, physical and verbal aggression that flow daily from this rostrum," said Miroslav Ivanov of WCC-DB.

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