GERB-UDF will support a government with We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (WCC-DB) with a full mandate for the next 3 years.
The decision was made today, March 5, after GERB held a National Party Conference to answer all public questions and conditions raised by WCC-DB leaders.
The highlights of the draft agreement are:
"I. BASIC PRINCIPLES
1. The coalitions of parties GERB and SDS on the one hand and PP and DB on the other, in a spirit of understanding and guided by the national priority for regular and stable governance of the Republic of Bulgaria, sign the present agreement on joint governance, systematizing and regulating state priorities and sectoral policies and ensure that all their actions are guided by the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria (RBC), laws and principles of the rule of law.
The parties, taking into account the implementation of the signed management program from June 2023, proceed to negotiate the next 9-month period only under the conditions of a full mandate of the 49th National Assembly (NA), and after December 2024, the rotating mandates are accepted for two , namely - 15 months each.
Given that the approved in June 2023 general legislative program expired in December 2023, a new one should be drawn up, approved and signed for the duration of the agreement. For this purpose, the parties are obliged to prepare a mechanism for the coordination of management decisions on current topics and systematic discussion of the processes of the legislative program and the priorities assigned to the implementation of the legislative and executive powers.
The parties are united around the following main priorities:
● Sustainable public finances, with a view to achieving one of our main priorities, namely the membership of Bulgaria in the Eurozone;
● Continuing efforts and taking measures to fight against corruption;
● Bulgaria to unlock its potential for accelerated economic and social development;
● Implementation of policies for the modernization of the country, including infrastructure development, energy efficiency, etc.;
● Placing education, including vocational education, as well as the quality of human capital as a top priority;
● Finalization of the process of accepting Bulgaria into Schengen by land borders;
● Guaranteeing national security;
● Unconditional adherence to the European and Euro-Atlantic development path of the country.
As their highest priority, the parties accept the continuation of efforts on the ongoing reform of the judiciary. This includes, first and foremost, the adoption of a new Judiciary Law that will ensure the objectives set out in the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria, meeting international standards of an independent court and prosecution service, an accountable prosecution service, impartial and competent magistrates of undisputed high moral and ethical character, guaranteed by an effective Inspectorate, for the sake of the justice due by any rule of law society.
Next, following the adoption of the Anti-Corruption Law, the anti-corruption reform should continue its course by adopting a completely new Law on Confiscation of Illegally Acquired Assets in terms of conceptual logic and functionality, which should meet the criteria of the Supreme Court of Cassation (SCC) ruling No. 4/2021 and the European legislation in the field.
Preventing the possibility of possessing and disposing of so-called "unexplained wealth", which is the purpose of confiscation of illegally acquired property, is a public policy measure to prevent illegally sourced property from flowing into and becoming part of the legitimate economy. To do otherwise would be to fail to protect the public interests of the rule of law and to disadvantage those who acquire and dispose of assets through legitimate means.
The fight against corruption and the assets generated by criminal activity, of which the confiscation of illegally acquired property is a part, is the focus of the ongoing European Union (EU) strategy to fight organised crime for the period 2021-2025. The issue is highlighted as a priority for all Member States, which should optimise their national legislation in this direction as a public policy measure. Criminal activity generates significant revenues, estimated at at least €139 billion per year across the EU, which are laundered and legalised using sophisticated means. Depriving those in possession of illicit proceeds is essential to disrupt the activities of criminal groups and prevent these assets from entering the legitimate economy. As the main motive for organised crime is financial gain, asset forfeiture is a very effective mechanism to deter criminal activity.
Finally, the Parties agree that the debate on the security services should be held and, as the national security of the country is the leading issue on this topic, the format for the debate should be within the Security Council of the Council of Ministers and not in the television studios. The security services are non-partisan and depoliticised. National legislation does not provide for the possibility of nominations for the heads of the security services to be agreed or determined by representatives of political parties or parliamentary groups. Political neutrality is a mandatory element of the functions and activities of the security services. Quota distribution in the security services based on political representation is unacceptable. Interference in the personnel policy and work of the services constitutes a threat to national security.
In the document, prepared by GERB-UDF, there are also proposals for 1. Working institutions and 2. Basic principles for decision-making. /BGNES
