Parliament got into a legal paradox by failing to approve amount of state subsidies for political parties
In an arguably unprecedented parliamentary drama, MPs did not pass the bill defining state subsidies for political parties for 2020. After a break, and some very heated debates the speaker initiated a third vote. MPs may vote for the same bill only twice within a single session, but speaker Tsveta Karayancheva said the “rules cannot foresee every real-life situation.” Тhus she produced a third vote. The legality of the procedure notwithstanding, MPs finally agreed to the opposition’s proposal for an eight-leva per vote subsidy for political parties in 2020.
The state subsidies for political parties pass a vote every year as part of the bundle of motions regarding the state budget for the coming year. State financial aid for political parties rarely produces news during the voting process as every year MPs pass a motion for the same amount - 12 or 13 leva per vote. The issue has received traction from outside Parliament, however. Salvi Trifonov, the former TV show host turned network owner and politician, has criticized the subsidy for many years, calling for MPs to cut it to one lev per vote.
The problem, as many observers have noted over the years, is that reducing the subsidies to a symbolic amount, first, produces a grave inequality between parties: smaller players could not support themselves, and two, opens the door for even greater dependency to private actors.
In a surprise move this June the majority passed a motion to cut the subsidies to 1 lev per vote. MPs from the ruling party and coalition partners approved the bill and the financial support for political parties from the state budget was radically reduced. In addition, MPs passed another motion: they lifted the limits to which political parties may receive financial aid from private businesses.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe has since recommended that Parliament reverse the changes.
The state subsidies for political parties pass a vote every year as part of the bundle of motions regarding the state budget for the coming year. State financial aid for political parties rarely produces news during the voting process as every year MPs pass a motion for the same amount - 12 or 13 leva per vote. The issue has received traction from outside Parliament, however. Salvi Trifonov, the former TV show host turned network owner and politician, has criticized the subsidy for many years, calling for MPs to cut it to one lev per vote.
The problem, as many observers have noted over the years, is that reducing the subsidies to a symbolic amount, first, produces a grave inequality between parties: smaller players could not support themselves, and two, opens the door for even greater dependency to private actors.
In a surprise move this June the majority passed a motion to cut the subsidies to 1 lev per vote. MPs from the ruling party and coalition partners approved the bill and the financial support for political parties from the state budget was radically reduced. In addition, MPs passed another motion: they lifted the limits to which political parties may receive financial aid from private businesses.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe has since recommended that Parliament reverse the changes.
Източник: mediapool.bg
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