24 janvier 2007
Bulgaria's president sworn in for second term
Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov was sworn in Friday for a second term, becoming the country's first president to win re-election since 1989.
At the inauguration ceremony, Parvanov swore to uphold the constitution and support any motion designed to protect Bulgaria, which joined the European Union (EU) on Jan. 1.
"We will look for better commitment and a presidential institution that will be more responsible," Parvanov said.
He said he would push forward the fight against high-level corruption and powerful organized crime gangs.
"I look at criminality as the key risk for security. Our EU entry should not slow the fight against organized crime. On the contrary, it should intensify it," he said in parliament after taking the oath of office.
The president added that Bulgaria's EU and NATO memberships had committed the nation to new responsibilities to the region, and he pledged to support the aspirations of his Balkan neighbors to join the EU. Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004.
The 49-year-old president, a historian and former leader of the Socialist Party, won re-election in a landslide victory in November's presidential race.
The presidency in Bulgaria is a largely ceremonial position, with the real power in the hands of the prime minister and parliament.
Nevertheless, the president carries moral authority and legislative veto powers.
Source: Xinhua
http://english.people.com.cn/200701/22/eng20070122_343675.html
20 janvier 2007
Bulgarian President was Sworn in
| 20 January 2007 | 09:07 | FOCUS News Agency |
The National Assembly has sworn in Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov and Vice-president Angel Marin at an official ceremony. This is their second term. After that the President delivered a one-hour speech criticizing the ruling coalition that the important decisions were made at sessions of the Council of the coalition. Parvanov stressed the presidential institution was and would be a factor for stability in Bulgaria. The leader of Movement for Rights and Freedoms Ahmed Dogan accepted Parvanov’s criticism describing it as “founded”. The opposition also accepted the criticism as grounded. However PM Sergey Stanishev said making decisions within the Council was a good and useful practice for the country.
Bulgaria's president sworn in for 2nd term
Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov was sworn in Friday for a second term, pledging that the EU newcomer nation will remain a loyal partner to the bloc and NATO.
Parvanov swore to uphold the constitution and kissed the Bible in a solemn parliamentary session that traditionally precedes the inaugural ceremony.
The presidency in Bulgaria is a largely ceremonial position, with the real power held by the prime minister and parliament. Still, the president carries moral authority and legislative veto power.
Parvanov, a 49-year-old historian and former leader of the Socialist Party, won a landslide victory over ultra-nationalist leader Volen Siderov in November's presidential elections and became the first Bulgarian president to win re-election since the fall of communism in 1989.
He also presided over Bulgaria's EU entry on Jan. 1, which he said marked "a new period of Bulgaria's development."
"The membership in the EU and NATO commits Bulgaria to new responsibilities to the countries of the region," Parvanov told parliament, adding that Bulgaria will support the efforts of its Balkan neighbors to also join the EU.
Parvanov criticized the war in Iraq, but insisted that Bulgaria would not waver in its commitments to the U.S.-led coalition there.
"If I were to follow my wishes, there would not be a single Bulgarian soldier sent abroad," Parvanov said. "Any withdrawal, however, will bring about heavy consequences for the democratic community, including us."
Bulgaria has sent a 120-strong non-combat unit in Iraq, and has been part of the multinational forces there since August 2003, reports AP.
Parvanov also called for the release of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor sentenced to death in Libya on charges of intentionally infecting children with HIV. The six were convicted a month ago despite scientific evidence that the children got the virus before they were hired to work there.
http://english.pravda.ru/news/world/19-01-2007/86580-bulgaria_president-0
Each Coalition has Right to Set up Additional Mechanisms: MP
| 19 January 2007 | 12:02 | FOCUS News Agency |
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Sofia. It is possible to make such criticism, the chair of the parliamentary group of Coalition for Bulgaria Mihail Mikov told journalists in regard to President Parvanov’s criticism that key decisions are taken first in the Council of the ruling coalition, a journalist of Focus Agency reports. |
Bulgaria's President Swears in, Scolds Govt
Socialist-backed Georgi Parvanov swore in as Bulgaria's president on Friday.
President Parvanov and Vice-President Anguel Marin took the oath at a ceremony at the Parliament and stepped in their second presidential mandate.
According to Article 96 of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria, the President and the Vice President take the oath of office, referred to in Article 76 (2) of the Constitution.
"I do swear in the name of the Republic of Bulgaria that I will observe the Constitution and the laws of the land and that I will be guided in all my actions by the interest of the people. I have sworn to it."
The president vowed to serve as a guarantee of the national interests of Bulgaria now that the country has joined the European Union and is member of NATO.
"The presidential institution can and should be one of the chief institutions that safeguard the country's national interests," Parvanov said.
"It is true that we must honour the commitments we have made, but we also should redefine the way we see our national goals and priorities. Now is the time to realise that these goals have changed and must be pursued in a new manner in the context of the EU," added Parvanov.
Parvanov lashed the council, set up by the leaders of the ruling three-party coalition, for taking decisions of major importance for the country.
"I don't think it is correct to take decisions on key issues in the narrow format of the Council of the coalition. That could be one of the factors that fuel the lack of confidence among people."
The president pledged to persevere in his efforts for the release of the five Bulgarian nurses in Libya.
" We will not stop. We are encouraged by the powerful civil initiative and the unprecedented international support," he said.
At the end of a pre-determined election marathon that started October 22, 2006, Parvanov overpowered the leader of the ultra-nationalist party Ataka Volen Siderov.
Parvanov swept the October 29 run-off and thus became Bulgaria's first-ever re-elected president. He secured his post with a smashing advance on his opponent, garnering 75. 736% of the votes, while nationalist Volen Siderov convinced some 24. 264% of the voters to join him.
The President and Vice President will assume office on January 22.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=75568
08 décembre 2006
Bulgarian President's Annual Christmas Charity Begins
The office of the Bulgarian President is about to open the fourth annual major charity campaign for aiding children.
"Bulgarian Christmas" kicks in December 1 to raise funds for drugs and medical facilities and help children in need.
The traditional campaign is organized by Georgi Parvanov's office with the assistance of the BNT and NOVA television channels.
The three previous editions of the campaign resulted in the collection of BGN 4,734,953, which were used for paying the medical treatment of more than 80 children.
The special website has been launched to explain the aims of the move, and instruct people how to donate money. The site http://www.bgkoleda.bg explains that short messaging to 1117 (for subscribers of MTel and GloBul) and calls to 0900 1117 (for fixed lines) allots one lev (about 0.5 euro) for the campaign.
Following the tradition, on the first day of Christmas, December 25, a charity concert will be organized in the National Theatre Ivan Vazov.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=73454
07 décembre 2006
President Georgi Parvanov Meets with Representatives of Organizations of Disabled People
| 30 November 2006 | 19:28 | FOCUS News Agency |
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Sofia. Just before December 3, the International Day of Disabled People and the forthcoming Sixth Congress of the Union of Disabled People in Bulgaria, the country’s President Georgi Parvanov met with representatives of one of the biggest organizations of people with disabilities in Bulgaria, the press office of the Bulgarian President announced. |
18 novembre 2006
President urges magistrates, lawmakers to speed up judicial reforms
SOFIA, Bulgaria: President Georgi Parvanov on Friday warned that crucial reforms in the judiciary have not yet been completed and urged lawmakers and magistrates to speed up their efforts.
"We should not allow a protracted reform and permanent changes to be used as excuse for those magistrates that cannot or do not want to bear their responsibilities," Parvanov told a conference of magistrates.
The forum — which gathered more than 1,500 participants — is the first to include all magistrates — judges, prosecutors, and investigators — who together are responsible for upholding the rule of law in Bulgaria.
The reform of Bulgaria's sluggish and graft-prone judiciary has long been considered one of the country's most serious problems ahead of its European Union entry, now scheduled for Jan. 1.
The bloc has agreed to let Bulgaria in, but warned that a significant chunk of expected economic aid will be made conditional on the completion of further reforms.
Parvanov also said that lawmakers "must tackle with utmost care and responsibility the sensitive issue of introducing controls over the judiciary."
Legislators are expected to debate in the coming days a draft package of constitutional amendments aimed at making magistrates more accountable by establishing a supervisory body to handle cases of corruption or mismanagement in the judiciary. Some magistrates have expressed concerns that the body might undermine magistrates' independence or duplicate the efforts of the Supreme Judicial Council, the top judicial authority.
The bloc has agreed to let Bulgaria in, but warned that a significant chunk of expected economic aid will be made conditional on the completion of further reforms.
Parvanov also said that lawmakers "must tackle with utmost care and responsibility the sensitive issue of introducing controls over the judiciary."
Legislators are expected to debate in the coming days a draft package of constitutional amendments aimed at making magistrates more accountable by establishing a supervisory body to handle cases of corruption or mismanagement in the judiciary. Some magistrates have expressed concerns that the body might undermine magistrates' independence or duplicate the efforts of the Supreme Judicial Council, the top judicial authority.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/17/europe/EU_GEN_Bulgaria_Judicial_Reform.php
10 novembre 2006
PRESIDENTIAL VETO IN BULGARIA AFFECTS BUDGET 2007 DRAFTING
President Georgi Purvanov vetoed the law for integration of people with disabilities. The presidential veto was also approved in Parliament.
The ruling coalition lacked two votes to overturn the veto, Novinar newspaper reported. For a presidential veto to become inefficient, at least 121 MPs need to vote against it.
Purvanov disagreed with the idea for provision of monthly social aid, based on the needs of people with disabilities. This was going to limit the number of people benefiting from such funds, said Purvanov.
The parliamentary social policy committee said that the veto would lead to the provision of same aid for all people with disabilities, which was unfair.
At least 600 million leva will be needed for social aid in this manner. The draft budget 2007 does not envision such expenditure, Novinar reported.
Members of the ruling coalition said that the veto passed due to a failure in the voting system. After talks Parliament chairperson Georgi Pirinski said that the vote will not be cancelled.
According to Bulgarian regulations law changes can be requested again after six months.
POPULISM IN BULGARIA A PERMANENT DEVELOPMENT- POLITICAL SCIENTISTS
Populist developments and formations in Bulgaria will be long-term, political scientists said.
Parties like ultra-nationalist movement Ataka will not disappear fast, political scientists said during a discussion named The Ghost of Populism in the Presidential Elections.
Ivan Krustev from the Centre for Liberal Strategies (CLS) said that the appearance of parties that failed acknowledging widely-accepted values was an interesting development.
The end of the transition period was marked with the appearance of political formations that rejected all goals of this transition, Krustev said as quoted by Bulgarian National Radio.
Parties that consider themselves as populist were gaining support because of their strategy to discuss topics that were previously considered taboo, said Krustev.
Ataka was working above all with symbols, said he. It did not rely so much on material promises and has only claimed that it will take authority away from the parties currently governing, said he.