Dispute over Constitutional Reform and Appointment of “Magnitsky” MP to Parliamentary Commission

The co-chairman of “Continuing the change-Democratic Bulgaria” Hristo Ivanov and the DSP entered into a dispute over the constitutional reform and the appointment of the “Magnitsky” MP from the Movement, Delyan Peevski, sanctioned under the global law, as a member of the parliamentary constitutional commission, which will deal with the changes in the basic law .

A day ago, Peevski was elected as part of the commission with the help of “Vazrazhdane” and with the votes of DPS, ITN and GERB. Most MPs from the PP-DB voted against, but the leaders of the formation Kiril Petkov, Hristo Ivanov, Atanas Atanasov and Vladislav Panev, together with four other people’s representatives, abstained.

At the beginning of the plenary day on Thursday, the co-chairman of “Continuing the change-Democratic Bulgaria” Hristo Ivanov said from the parliamentary rostrum that the election of DPS MP Delyan Peevski to the committee on constitutional issues was not a good decision. “It didn’t go well,” Ivanov said. He predicted that the DPS should withdraw him from the committee in a few days, after the passions have calmed down.

The Co-Chair of the DB explained that he respects the right of each parliamentary group to propose committee members, but this committee is not like all the others.

“We must make every effort in this commission – its composition, its activity, its format not to cause any disputes and any divisions”said Hristo Ivanov.

“Bulgarian justice is collapsing before our eyes”he stated and defended the need for constitutional changes. “Today, the same members of the SJC who elected the chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev will vote for his removal. This does not bring a sense of justice”noted Hristo Ivanov.

The DPS fought back

In response to Ivanov’s hint to withdraw Peevski from the commission, the DPS announced that he remains a member and will not replace him.

Tsonev announced that Delyan Peevski and his team were the authors of the project for changes to the DPS constitution, which the PP-DB liked after consulting with experts.

“Mr. Peevski is and will be in this commission, because he developed this project, regardless of Facebook specialists“said the MP from DPS.

“If someone is afraid for their electorate, we are also afraid, because our electorate definitely does not like hugging you”he turned to PP-DB.

“Hristo Ivanov must understand one thing. It is our right to decide who will be part of the constitutional commission, and if he wants to make a constitutional reform, so be it”Delyan Peevski told journalists on the sidelines of the parliament.

“There are many cases in the past that show that they cannot be moral judges. At least Hristo Ivanov can be the judge of me or anyone and he knows it very well”Peevski also said.

“I am not a moral judge” and “they should not float, but land in the National Assembly”

Later, Peevski and DPS leader Mustafa Karadayi held a meeting with Ivanov on the constitutional reform.

In front of the journalists, Ivanov once again stated that the parliamentary constitutional commission should not raise any doubts and questions, but should deal with applying European standards in the field of justice. However, he emphasized that it is not his job to ask for personal changes in the commission, despite the formation’s disagreement with the selection of Peevski.

“I am no one’s moral judge. This is not a court and it shouldn’t be a court. We must make it so that we have a neutral court that is neither mine nor yours.”Ivanov said.

He added that he could propose a principle for the commission’s work and give a personal example. “The principle is that non-divisive persons should enter this commission. I am also such a figure, that’s why I stand on the side. We have to show that we are able to step aside and let the process happen in the most neutral way.”the co-chairman of the DB pointed out.

Peevski also spoke to the journalists:

“In order for (constitutional reform – ed.) to happen, everyone should understand where they are and land in the parliament, because they are still floating and do not understand what is happening in Bulgaria. Everything where we flew somewhere in the pink clouds ended with the composition of this government. They have to land, they have a government at the moment, they have to do the sensible things for Bulgaria. When they land, we’ll be here to talk to them on behalf of all voters.”.

According to him, no one could exclude DPS from these conversations. “If 204 deputies plan to exclude DPS, our voters will not exclude us from this contract and from the conversation about a new social contract”he also said, referring to a possible majority of all parties without DPS.

“Vazrazhdane” offered support

Earlier, the biggest surprise in the debate in the plenary hall came from the leader of “Vazrazhdane” Kostadin Kostadinov. He said he was pleasantly surprised that people in the PP-DB shared his party’s ideas for reform – for example, to abolish the very institution of the Prosecutor General, and have his functions performed by the Minister of Justice.

Kostadin Kostadinov outlined three scenarios before the reform. The first option is the previous path, in which a majority is created between PP-DB, GERB and DPS. The second is to make the majority between the ruling party and “Vazrazhdane”. The third is that the reform will fail.

The leader of “Vazrazhdane” reminded that no one comes to the nationalists for talks and expressed hope that this will change. Thus, in practice, he offered his services to those in power. However, Kostadinov did not explain why he and his deputies did not participate in the vote yesterday and thus helped to elect Peevski.

ITN and the “naughty bride”

There followed a reaction from “There is such a people” (ITN). The chairman of the parliamentary group, Toshko Yordanov, graphically presented their point of view on the case.

“Hristo Ivanov goes on foot to Delyan Peevski, goes to negotiate with DPS, as a result of which they are supported slightly from behind. Imagine a young bride – PP-DB, a naughty bride who is married to an experienced but older partner – GERB -SDS, at that moment the DPS intervenes in the role of a railing – to prevent them from slipping”uses the Yordanov metaphor.

“You went to beg them, you will not hide, we will show what love you have, wherever you gather”he turned to PP-DB.

BSP saw “parallel state regrouping”

BSP leader Kornelia Ninova stated that the goal of the PP-DB is to change the composition of the SJC through changes in the constitution.

According to her, the right wants to get the upper hand in the personnel body of the judiciary in order to
participates in the selection of the next Prosecutor General.

“Why don’t we tell each other that this is what it’s all about – again a battle for influence, for positions, for levers, for mastering the system”Ninova said.

She repeated her new thesis that what has been happening lately is a “regrouping of the parallel state”, from which the BSP distances itself.

Appeal from non-governmental organizations

Meanwhile, the “Justice for Everyone Initiative” association issued a statement against the election of Delyan Peevski to the parliamentary committee on constitutional changes on Wednesday. It states that the MP’s goal is “to clean up his image internationally and show strength.”

“We need to express our categorical opinion that we DO NOT ACCEPT a mentorship, leadership or supervisory role for Delyan Peevski in the writing, submission or adoption process of a constitutional project for amendments to the chapter “Judicial Power” for reforms in the prosecution, composition and structure of the SJC ! Peevski is that “red line” that we cannot cross, and we sincerely hope that you, who have repeatedly declared that you will conduct a real fight against corruption and would not even talk to persons from the “Magnitsky” list, will not do it either “says the association’s statement.

It insists on a meeting with GERB and PP-DB, at the latest at the beginning of next week, to discuss the subject of judicial reform.