Bulgaria: Health Minister Insists That MPs Should Nominate New Reps for NOHQ

In an emotional speech Health Minister Kostadin Angelov asked parliament to nominate new representatives for the National Operational Headquarters (NOHQ).

"For several days, I've been listening to different parties' representatives who propose candidates for the National Operations Headquarters. They seem to have ideas about its functions and actions. If you really think that NOHQ is the body that can effectively manage the pandemic crisis in Bulgaria, please submit your proposals for members in the way you air them in the National Assembly lobby", he called on MPs from the parliamentary podium.

Opinions have been voiced that surgeons cannot tackle the pandemic, and I argue that it has so far been successfully dealt with, he assured.

We managed to get out of the third wave successfully, Angelov said. Tomorrow night he will give another briefing.

We remind that on April 15, the National Operational Headquarters was disbanded. Later it became clear that there would still be a regular briefing of the HQ, as the responsibility for it will bear the Minister of Health and the Chief Health Inspector.

However, MPs were outraged by this unexpected decision, which they described as the motto of outgoing Premier Boyko Borissov: "After me and NOHQ - the deluge."

The "offer" of the Health Minister is not in compliance with the Constitution and he didn't specify with what kind of legal act the National Assembly could "nominate" such representatives.  In Bulgaria, there is clear separation of powers between government branches and legislation branch could not interfere in the competence of the executive branch, according to the Bulgarian Constitution.