site.bta Reformist Bloc and ABV Bewildered at Nominations for Central Bank Deputy Governors

Reformist Bloc and ABV Bewildered at Nominations for Central Bank Deputy Governors

Sofia, July 16 (BTA) - Members of the ruling majority differed
in their reactions to Wednesday's nominations for deputy
governors of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) made by the new
Governor of the central bank, Dimitar Radev. On Thursday, MPs of
 the Reformist Bloc and ABV expressed their bewilderment at the
proposals, but GERB refuted their arguments.

Explaining why the Reformist Bloc is against the nominations,
the coalition's Martin Dimitrov said: "We find the candidacy of
Dimiter Kostov most provocative, because he belonged to the
Videnov cabinet, whose tenure, as you know, saw the bankruptcy
of many banks, so having such a person installed now at the helm
 of the BNB Banking Supervision Department would seem very
unconvincing."

ABV's Luchezar Nikiforov said the nominations came as a
surprise, because it would be normal for the new Governor to
work with a new team, considering the changes he apparently
wants to make.

GERB's Menda Stoyanova, who chairs the Budget and Finance
Committee in Parliament, countered by saying that the
responsibility of a deputy governor who turned a blind eye on
wrongdoings should not be shared with the other deputy governors
 who were not in a position to control him. "Every deputy
governor enjoys absolute operating autonomy," Stoyanova added.

The Patriotic Front is yet to decide how to vote on the
nominations, but according to its Floor Leader Valeri Simeonov,
continuity is a good thing. "When a new leader is starting off,
they should be able to choose whom to work with," Simeonov
argued.

Atanas Merdjanov was adamant that BSP-Left Bulgaria will not
support the nominations when they are put to the vote in
Parliament next week. The group maintains that the BNB Governing
 Council should not keep its old members. "We did not support
Dimitar Radev for Governor, and I believe his nominations for
deputy governors will not be supported either," Merdjanov said.