Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SOFIA449
2009-08-14 12:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:
BULGARIA: NEW SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT SETS
how-toVZCZCXRO2559 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHSF #0449 2261258 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 141258Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6241 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000449
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA: NEW SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT SETS
AMBITIOUS AGENDA
REF: SOFIA 403
Classified By: CDA John Ordway for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000449
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA: NEW SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT SETS
AMBITIOUS AGENDA
REF: SOFIA 403
Classified By: CDA John Ordway for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: In an introductory call with interim
Charge, new Speaker of Parliament Tsetska Tsacheva presented
an ambitious agenda focused on strengthening rule of law and
improving the economic climate. In its first several months
in office, Tsacheva's center-right parliamentary minority
will take on revisions of the criminal code and criminal
procedure code, with the goal of reducing loopholes exploited
by organized crime and corruption defendants to stall legal
proceedings. Working closely with the GERB-led government,
Tsacheva hopes the legislative overhaul will allow the
judicial system to chalk a few early victories, win back the
European Commission's confidence, and loosen Brussels' purse
strings. End Summary.
2. (C) Tsacheva told Charge August 13 that decreasing
criminality would be this parliament's goal. She deflected
concerns about leading a parliamentary minority (GERB
controls 48 percent of seats),saying she was confident of
the support of the three other center-right and right parties
in Parliament, the Blue Coalition, Order Law and Justice and
Ataka. In the five plenary sessions the Parliament has held
since the end of July, GERB has also garnered a handful of
votes from the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party and
ethnic-Turkish party MRF. Tsacheva noted with pride that her
nomination as speaker had passed unanimously (apart from
three abstentions.) This honeymoon phase would soon pass,
but Tsacheva, a complete unknown on the national stage before
her nomination by GERB as Parliamentary Speaker, assured us
that she is steeled for battle when the time comes.
3. (C) Tsacheva requested U.S. assistance and closer
coordination as Parliament moves forward with revisions to
the criminal code and criminal procedures code. She lamented
past Bulgarian naivete in transposing European directives
word for word into Bulgarian law, when more nuance was
required to account for Bulgarian reality. She requested
help in finding the balance between protecting defendants
rights while ensuring that justice is served. "We have the
will to carry out these reforms, but we lack capacity and
experts," she said.
4. (C) Bio Notes: Tsacheva, 51, is a career attorney and
municipal counselor from Pleven. She joined GERB at its
founding as a citizen's association in April 2006. In 2007
she ran as GERB's candidate for mayor in Pleven, coming in
third place with only 12 percent of the vote. In 2009
national elections, she topped the GERB ticket in Pleven,
winning a majoritarian seat. She is married, with one son.
She speaks no English.
ORDWAY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA: NEW SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT SETS
AMBITIOUS AGENDA
REF: SOFIA 403
Classified By: CDA John Ordway for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: In an introductory call with interim
Charge, new Speaker of Parliament Tsetska Tsacheva presented
an ambitious agenda focused on strengthening rule of law and
improving the economic climate. In its first several months
in office, Tsacheva's center-right parliamentary minority
will take on revisions of the criminal code and criminal
procedure code, with the goal of reducing loopholes exploited
by organized crime and corruption defendants to stall legal
proceedings. Working closely with the GERB-led government,
Tsacheva hopes the legislative overhaul will allow the
judicial system to chalk a few early victories, win back the
European Commission's confidence, and loosen Brussels' purse
strings. End Summary.
2. (C) Tsacheva told Charge August 13 that decreasing
criminality would be this parliament's goal. She deflected
concerns about leading a parliamentary minority (GERB
controls 48 percent of seats),saying she was confident of
the support of the three other center-right and right parties
in Parliament, the Blue Coalition, Order Law and Justice and
Ataka. In the five plenary sessions the Parliament has held
since the end of July, GERB has also garnered a handful of
votes from the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party and
ethnic-Turkish party MRF. Tsacheva noted with pride that her
nomination as speaker had passed unanimously (apart from
three abstentions.) This honeymoon phase would soon pass,
but Tsacheva, a complete unknown on the national stage before
her nomination by GERB as Parliamentary Speaker, assured us
that she is steeled for battle when the time comes.
3. (C) Tsacheva requested U.S. assistance and closer
coordination as Parliament moves forward with revisions to
the criminal code and criminal procedures code. She lamented
past Bulgarian naivete in transposing European directives
word for word into Bulgarian law, when more nuance was
required to account for Bulgarian reality. She requested
help in finding the balance between protecting defendants
rights while ensuring that justice is served. "We have the
will to carry out these reforms, but we lack capacity and
experts," she said.
4. (C) Bio Notes: Tsacheva, 51, is a career attorney and
municipal counselor from Pleven. She joined GERB at its
founding as a citizen's association in April 2006. In 2007
she ran as GERB's candidate for mayor in Pleven, coming in
third place with only 12 percent of the vote. In 2009
national elections, she topped the GERB ticket in Pleven,
winning a majoritarian seat. She is married, with one son.
She speaks no English.
ORDWAY