Bulgaria’s Parliament voted on the changes to the Health Act

Bulgaria’s Parliament on May 12 decided that after the end of the coronavirus state of emergency, the government will be able to declare a state of epidemic emergency in the country or in a region, at the proposal of the Minister of Health. The MPs conclusively vote on the amendments to the Health Act, which will make provision for keeping some of the anti-epidemic measures after the end of the state of emergency on May 13.

GERB and its minority partner in the ruling coalition, United Patriots, agreed to grant tourism vouchers to medics and police officers, who work on the front lines in the fight against the coronavirus. The state will subsidize charter flights.

The ruling party and the opposition got into a dispute over the first text of the law - COVID-19 to be included among the highly contagious diseases, which require mandatory isolation and treatment.

According to the BSP and the MRF, the 8 criteria by which a state of epidemic emergency can be declared are unclear and worrying. According to the opposition BSP, it is unconstitutional for orders of the Minister of Health to restrict rights.

Krum Zarkov, BSP: There is no way to cancel the state of emergency and leave it in effect. If it comes to the level of closing cities - only the National Assembly is the body that can do it according to our Constitution.

The government explained that with the decision to be able to declare an emergency epidemic situation by the cabinet, at the suggestion of the Minister of Health, that they take political responsibility.

The prime minister reacted to the BSP's allegations.

Boyko Borissov, Prime Minister: I do not pay attention to them at all. If they think it is not in compliance with the Constitution, they can refer to the Constitutional Court. Have you seen anything happening during the state of the emergency, except anti-epidemic measures? The idea of this law is that we just want to mentally free people from the thought of state of emergency. That is why we will keep in place only these measures, which are necessary to continue.

Borissov also said they were monitoring the number of those infected with the virus and would consider when to open the malls.

Boyko Borissov, PM: Knowing how people gather in malls, at this point I think it is not appropriate to open them.

The state will support charter flights of Bulgarian companies that transport tourists to Bulgaria.

The idea for the charter flights came from the United Patriots and received support from the MRF.