BULGARIA’S DEPUTY interior minister has resigned after being linked with a bribery scandal.
The resignation comes as the Balkan state’s fight against corruption dominates the run-up to next month’s general election.
Raif Mustafa stepped down from his post when Bulgarian media claimed he was implicated in the case of a prominent businessman who was arrested last week for allegedly offering a bribe of more than €50,000 to a senior government official.
Bulgarian newspapers claimed Mr Mustafa had acted as an intermediary to help the businessman bribe the head of the country’s fisheries agency to secure a contract to supply patrol boats. Mr Mustafa denied any wrongdoing, but said he would resign to avoid damaging his party, the Movement for Rights and Freedom, ahead of the July 5th election.
Bulgarian investigators said the businessman’s bribery plan was uncovered during an enquiry into the misuse of European Union aid following Brussels’ suspension of some of the country’s funding following previous corruption scandals. Prosecutors said this month that they were investigating hundreds of farmers for allegedly fraudulent use of EU subsidies.
The socialist-led government is under pressure from the EU to root out graft and crack down on organised crime. But the country’s record is dismal: since the fall of communism in 1989, no senior officials have been jailed for corruption and only one major mafia boss has been convicted.
Anger at the socialists’ failure to tackle the problem is expected to lead to their defeat at next month’s polls, with a new party led by bodyguard-turned-politician Boyko Borisov tipped to win.
Frustration with organised crime has deepened on news that four alleged gangsters have won temporary immunity from prosecution by running in the elections.
Lawyers for the men, accused of crimes including extortion and racketeering, insist they must now be released from custody to take part in the campaign. Three of the four have already been freed, Bulgarian media reports, and they are all expected to escape trial if they secure seats in parliament.
