BSP-Left Bulgaria Demands Inquiry Committee into New EUR 8-Bln Debt

Sofia, February 26 (BTA) - BSP-Left Bulgaria will make steps
towards the establishment of an inquiry committee into the
ratification of an 8 billion euro debt agreement, the manner of
negotiation and related agreements, MP Krassimir Yankov told
journalists on Thursday.

The inquiry committee will be set up for three months to look
into the document and correspondence exchange by the government
and cabinet members about the Dealer and the Agency Agreements
and a Deed of Covenant. The committee should establish how the
four banks that will manage the debt have been selected.

Yankov said that 48 signatures are needed to submit a draft
resolution to establish the committee and BSP-Left Bulgaria
plans to seek support from all parliamentary groups so that it
becomes clear if the incumbent and the opposition really want
transparency. Yankov warned that if the proposal is rejected by
the majority, the socialist party will make public facts at
their disposal about the debt.

The Left still insists that President should veto the
ratification. Chavdar Georgiev added that BSP will file a
complaint with the Constitutional Court.

Roumen Gechev said that the government negotiated behind the
backs of voters and MPs and that the agreements have been
ratified without knowing commission fees. A commission fee of 1
per cent over 16 million leva could explain the schizophrenic
behaviour of some parliamentary groups in a matter of hours and
minutes, he said.

Georgi Kadiev said: "Yesterday we saw a kiss between Boyko
Borissov and Lyutvi Mestan, but unlike the kiss between
Stanishev and Mestan in 2013, which was free and a genuine
apology to the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, this kiss has
a price and it is 16 billion leva." He went on to say: "We
witnessed the future collapse of the governing coalition." In
his words, in a few months the junior coalition partners will
withdraw their support and Borissov will be faced with the
choice to strike an alliance with the Movement for Rights and
Freedoms or govern as a government of the minority.

Reformist Bloc co-floor leader Radan Kanev told journalists the
Bloc won't support the proposal for an inquiry committee as
there was a public debate for two weeks.