Vigenin: We have to give citizens more protection against profiteering

“A smoother transition from the lev to the euro has to be ensured. We have to give citizens more security and protection against speculative price rises on goods. This is the goal both of the Law on the introduction of the euro and of our bill on measures for controlling the prices of basic goods and services. Nobody wants to create needless difficulties for business, these are rather tools for acting against those who do not play fair, and honest business has no reason to worry.” This was stated by the head of the Delegation of Bulgarian Socialists in the European Parliament and member of the BSP Executive Bureau Kristian Vigenin on the NTV programme “Intersection”. He added that a large part of the socialists proposals found their place in the Law on the introduction of the euro adopted at first reading: “BSP is the only left-wing party both in the National Assembly and in the government. We will try to defend our legislative proposals against profiteering and I believe we will be able to find the golden mean.”

“The measures create security for citizens and a possibility for the government to act if speculative increases in prices and services are detected. It can also be read as a warning to those traders who intend to take unfair advantage of the introduction of the euro. But not every price rise can be ascribed to the move to the new currency,” the MEP warned. In his view, in the event of inflation, people from vulnerable groups need to be compensated by the state.

Maya Manolova’s candidacy and the EU budget

On the topic of the rejected nomination of Maya Manolova for the post of ombudsman, Vigenin said that the parliamentary group of the left supported her, but she did not receive approval from the other political forces in parliament: “There is a certain misunderstanding on the subject. The ombudsman is a potential caretaker prime minister. There is no way BSP can have all the important posts, but we could probably have put up a more serious fight. We will follow the work of the newly elected ombudsman closely, we hope they will do what was promised and be a defender of people, rather than serving the interests of the institutions and of the governing majority.”

On the EU Multiannual Financial Framework, Kristian Vigenin pointed out that those disappointed in the European Parliament outnumber those charmed by it. “Each of the political groups has its own reasons. The money for agriculture, cohesion and the environment is significantly less. On the other hand, the planned spending on defence is significantly more. As a socialist, and BSP too, there is no way we can be satisfied, we want more funds for social policies as well. This does not mean, however, that Bulgaria will receive less money, it depends on the distribution. A new system of payments is planned, national and regional plans,” the MEP commented. He expressed his concern that the new payment system carries the risk of the European Parliament having fewer opportunities to scrutinise the funds.