2024-08-07 11:14:38
The national ombudsman and his deputy are among the elective positions for caretaker prime minister. Both seats have been empty for four months.
After the national public defender Diana Kovacheva was elected as a Bulgarian judge at the European Court of Human Rights at the end of January, she resigned. On April 10, the National Assembly prematurely terminated her powers as an ombudsman.
Elena Cherneva-Markova also resigned from the post of her deputy, saying that she had personal reasons for her decision. And complaints from citizens on problems such as obstructed access to health care, education or violated consumer rights are answered by Chief Secretary Aisun Avdzhiev, to whom Kovacheva passed the baton upon her departure.
The institution’s balance sheet shows that the number of filed complaints for the time since there has been no effective ombudsman has increased by 50% compared to the same period before Diana Kovacheva’s resignation. But the experts managed to answer the citizens within the legal term.
Every year, the number of complaints received by the public defender about the balancing accounts from “Toplofikatsia” is increasing,” Avdzhiev explained to NOVA.
“We carry out a thorough investigation of each individual case. The other complaints, which have grown significantly, are about the lack of water in many populated areas – Dobrich, Varna, Sliven, Sofia region,” said Avdzhiev.
“We are also appealing to KEVR, to the relevant municipalities, so that this problem can be solved,” he explained.
According to him, the ombudsman’s administration strives to respond within a month, but sometimes they use the entire period of 3 months because they turn to a third institution to solve the relevant problem.
“Even when the institution is delayed – we send another letter and wait within 3 months so that we can respond to our citizens,” he said, adding that regardless of whether there is a leader, an institution must work. “I think it is functioning very well.” Avdzhiev said.