Gross violations of the Bulgarian Constitution

13.12.2013

Question for written answer E-014099-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Alexander Mirsky (S&D) , Filip Kaczmarek (PPE) , Roger Helmer (EFD) , Nirj Deva (ECR) , Hannu Takkula (ALDE)

In 2009 at least 39 prospective MPs from the far-right Bulgarian nationalist party Ataka signed credit guarantees from one offshore company to another. Some 17 of these candidates went on to become MPs. The candidates were asked to appear at the Ataka headquarters on 12 and 13 June 2009, one day before the candidate list registration deadline for the 2009 parliamentary elections. There, according to their testimony, they were misled into signing the aforementioned credit guarantees along with the registration documents. Each candidate therefore became a guarantor for a loan worth EUR 150 000, taking this sum from one offshore company as a borrower and lending it to another as a lender. The party leadership and Volen Siderov in person told them that they were signing ‘declarations of loyalty’ or ‘loyalty contracts’. Manipulating democracy in this way is a very serious crime.

1. Does the Commission intend to intervene in this matter, since apparently nobody wishes to address these serious state problems in Bulgaria?

2. Is the Commission planning to adopt legislation at a European level that will prohibit such crimes and will provide very strict sanctions against those who continue with such practices?

OJ C 288, 28/08/2014