The National Assembly finally adopted significant changes to the State Property Act with the consolidated support of the parliamentary groups of GERB-SDS, "DPS-New Beginning", "BSP-United Left" and "There Is Such a People". The voting took place with partial absence of opposition formations such as "Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria", "Revival" and others.
The Speaker of Parliament Natalia Kiselova announced that this is the last legislative act before the summer parliamentary vacation, with the next session scheduled for September 3rd.
The key amendments provide for a radical change in the procedures for disposing of state property. Specifically, an electronic auction is introduced for the sale of separate parts of commercial companies with over 50% state participation. Simultaneously, a new procedure is regulated for disposal actions with properties managed by the Ministry of Defense - through regional governors or the Minister of Regional Development.
Significant corrections were also made to sectoral laws. In the Healthcare Establishments Act, the establishment of limited property rights on state properties for medical activities was allowed without an auction, through a Council of Ministers decision.
The amendments to the Investment Promotion Act introduced simplified administrative procedures for priority national and regional investment projects. The administrative service and approval terms are expected to be halved compared to standard procedures.
Another significant change is the designation of the Supreme Administrative Court as the competent authority for cases related to expropriation of properties for national sites. The court will rule within one month in a closed session.
Political reactions were diverse. Manol Peykov from "Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" critically defined the bill as "unworthy", pointing to the inclusion of 4,400 objects for privatization.
Pavlin Naydenov from the "Alliance for Rights and Freedoms" emphasized the need for transparency in electronic auctions for state properties. Petar Petrov from "Revival" categorically opposed, defining the changes as "looting of state property".
Georgi Krastev from GERB-SDS defended the legislative amendments as necessary to achieve legal certainty and procedural efficiency in expropriation procedures.
Nadezhda Yordanova from "Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" expressed reservations about the introduction of tacit consent and shortened administrative procedures. She critically commented on the possibility of privatizing strategic sites such as the ports of Varna and Bourgas without a parliamentary decision.
The legislative changes sparked sharp debates about the balance between administrative efficiency and the risk of hasty disposal actions with state property.