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EU justice chief backs Bulgarian anti-graft protesters

by Reuters
Tuesday, 23 July 2013 16:24 GMT

European Union Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding addresses the European Parliament's Committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs in Brussels June 19, 2013 REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

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* Protests triggered by security chief appointment

* Broadened to target graft, crime, hardships

* EU monitors Bulgaria's judicial system

By Angel Krasimirov

SOFIA, July 23 (Reuters) - The European Union's justice chief said on Tuesday she sympathised with Bulgarian protesters who have held almost daily rallies against corruption, and urged the government to reform its judicial system.

Thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets of Sofia last month to protest against the new Socialist-led government's decision to name a powerful media magnate as the country's security chief.

The government withdrew the appointment, but the protests broadened out to call for an end to graft, organised crime, economic hardship and the perceived excessive influence on government affairs by wealthy individuals.

"My sympathy is with the Bulgarian citizens who are protesting on the streets against corruption. Bulgaria must continue its reform efforts," European Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said in a question and answer session with civil society groups.

"The daily public demonstrations tell something very clear: there's a need for continued reform ... They indicate the deep concerns in Bulgarian society about the rule of law," she added.

Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007 and is widely seen as having one of its worst records on corruption.

Brussels keeps Bulgaria and Romania's judicial systems under special monitoring. Concerns over corruption have also kept both countries outside the passport-free Schengen zone.

Reding called on Bulgaria's fragile coalition government - made up of Socialists and an ethnic Turkish grouping - to join forces with the opposition to meet the protesters' concerns.

"I urge political parties to deepen their efforts for strong reforms of judiciary system and get rid of corruption because a strong democracy needs this," said Reding, who also met President Rosen Plevneliev.

Opinion polls have shown about 60 percent of Bulgarians disapprove of Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski's cabinet - one of the worst ratings for a government since the fall of communism in 1989.

The cabinet was formed after the centre-right GERB party won the most votes in elections in May but failed to form a government. Analysts say the current coalition is unlikely to last.

Street protests over high utility prices and corruption toppled the previous centre-right government led by Boiko Borisov in February. (Writing by Radu Marinas; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

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