Bulgaria’s caretaker government asks Constitutional Court to overturn Parliament vote on measures against price shock from fuel

Meeting on March 25, Bulgaria’s caretaker government agreed to ask the Constitutional Court to overturn a March 13 decision by the National Assembly compelling the administration to take measures against the price shock from the high prices of crude oil and natural gas, according to a brief statement by the government information service.

As The Sofia Globe reported on March 13, the National Assembly voted a decision instructing the caretaker government to take “measures against the price shock from high oil and natural gas prices”.

The decision, tabled even though the Gyurov interim government already had set up an interdepartmental commission on the issue on March 10 and on March 12 announced proposals, was tabled by MPs from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning, which is led by Magnitsky Act-sanctioned Delyan Peevski.

The decision came as Parliament was in the final days of its scheduled sittings ahead of Bulgaria’s early parliamentary elections to be held on April 19.

On March 25, Bulgaria’s government activated its measure to aid low-income individuals in the face of rising fuel prices.

Caretaker Finance Minister Georgi Klisurski told a briefing on March 25: “The caretaker government accepts and welcomes the spirit of the National Assembly’s decision, but we dispute its legal form.

“It is also important for us to introduce measures for fuels quickly and effectively. In a few days, we will announce the entire package of measures – now also in favour of the private sector,” Klisurski said.

(Photo: government.bg)