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ITN Withdraws Controversial Penal Code Amendment Bill
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A proposed amendment to Bulgaria’s Penal Code, spearheaded by the ITN (There Is Such a People) party, has been withdrawn from consideration. The announcement was made via Facebook by party leader Slavi Trifonov on Thursday.
The bill, officially designated with signature 51-554-01-178, was withdrawn “pursuant to Article 81 of the Rules for the Organization and Activity of the National Assembly.” This action halts the legislative process before the proposal could be enacted into law.
Understanding the Legislative Process
It’s crucial to understand that the withdrawn document was a bill – a draft proposal – and not a law. As Trifonov clarified, a bill requires a series of procedural steps, most importantly a vote by the National Assembly, to become legally binding. The withdrawal effectively resets the process, meaning any future attempt to address the issues raised by the bill would require a new proposal and a fresh start in the legislative cycle.
Focus on Personal Privacy and Blackmail
The core intent of the withdrawn legislation centered on bolstering protections for individuals against blackmail involving personal photographs. According to Trifonov, the bill aimed to safeguard the personal space of citizens, addressing a growing concern about the misuse of intimate images. He described the current situation as involving “some rather unclean people” exploiting personal photos for malicious purposes.
“It’s just absurd ‘there is such a people’ to ask for such a thing,” Trifonov stated, seemingly referencing the criticism the bill faced. He emphasized the importance of respecting the individuals who drafted the legislation, even if it ultimately wasn’t adopted.
A Reflection on Freedom and Responsibility
Trifonov invoked the memory of Rangel Valchanov, a figure he described as a close acquaintance, quoting Valchanov’s assertion that, “No one can be free if he doesn’t want to be released!” This philosophical point underscores the bill’s underlying theme: empowering individuals to protect themselves and assert control over their personal information.
The withdrawal of the bill does not diminish the importance of the issues it sought to address. Whether the public will engage with the details of the proposal, even in its withdrawn state, remains to be seen, but Trifonov believes the effort of those who created it deserves consideration.
