Bulgaria's Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee Approves IntMin Reform

Bulgaria's parliamentary legal affairs committee approved at first reading on Wednesday the draft amendments to the Interior Ministry Act.

The amendments were narrowly approved as ten MPs voted in favour, two were against, while seven lawmakers abstained.

Last week, the draft was rejected by the internal security and public order parliamentary committee.

The amendments foresee police officers already serving in the system to keep their compensation of twenty salaries paid upon retirement. However the length of paid leave will be reduced by five days.

Newly appointed officials will be entitled to no more than twelve salaries upon retirement.

Despite the approval in the committee, it remains questionable whether the draft will pass in the plenary chamber.

The chairperson of the committee, Danail Kirilov, who is from the largest ruling party GERB, commented that the draft needs a considerable change and debates, which could to take place between the first and second readings.

The largest opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) remains firmly against,  while the junior coalition partner, the Reformist Bloc (RB), demanded clarifying the competition for appointing new officials.

Meanwhile, police officers have reaffirmed their readiness to protest.

This is the second attempt of Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova to pass the reform after the failure in November last year.

Back ten, draft proposals, which suggested cuts to the social benefits and remuneration of police officers, caused .large-scale protests across the country in November last year

The government conceded to the demands of protesters and withdrew the controversial reforms

Police officers have maintained their readiness to protest...