Bulgarian Policemen Have Readiness to Stage New Protests Over Proposed Reforms

Bulgarian policemen have readiness to stage new protests over the new bill proposing amendments to the Interior Ministry Act.

Trade unions in the sector are scheduled to meet with representatives of the ministry on Wednesday in order to discuss their diverging views over the planned reform, Darik radio informs.

The largest trade union in the sector will firmly oppose the proposed bill as it does not radically differ from the proposed changes which sparked large-scale police protests in November last year.

Back then, proposed cuts to the remuneration and social benefits of policemen and changes to their retirement rules forced police officers to protest for several days in a row by blocking key roads across the country.

The government conceded to the demands of police officers and agreed to withdraw the proposed reforms.

According to trade unions, the new bill bears striking similarities to the previous proposals and the likelihood for new protests has reached almost 100 %, especially if the interior ministry goes ahead and tables the bill.

The bill has neither addressed the problem with the large number of administrators employed at the ministry nor the need for differentiation between the different kinds of civil servants.

Trade unions warn that in case the amendments are adopted, the quality of the candidates for interior ministry officials will drop dramatically, which will be harmful for civil society.