Sofia, July 18 (BTA) - Reacting to the adoption of amendments to the Privatization and Post-Privatization Control Act, Valentin Kassabov MP of the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria (NFSB, part of the power-sharing United Patriots coalition) said GERB sold the State for 58 million leva - the penalty which may be imposed on the owners of the privatized Navibulgar company.

Under the new provisions, specific obligations directly linked to the privatized company's line of business cannot be imposed on the buyer for more than five years. This also applies to privatization contracts where, as at the date on which this legislation become effective, the buyer does not owe penalties for failure to perform obligations in the first five years after the deal was closed.

Boris Yachev of the NFSB said those amendments would make it possible for rich people to become even richer. Yordan Apostolov added that a whole flurry of retroactive procedures could be expected.

Kassabov argued that GERB pushed through two provisions in the law out of fear. He asked in what way Prime Minister Boyko Borissov is dependent on Navibulgar owners Kiril and Georgi Domouschiev. "It is awful when a coalition is sold for some money," said Kassabov, adding that the NFSB was outraged and asked when GERB would end its "dishonest game".

Asked if the NFSB would sacrifice the coalition, Kassabov said this would have to be discussed.

In 2008, KG Maritime Shipping, a subsidiary of the two brothers' Advance Properties company, acquired a 70 per cent stake in Navibulgar.

It emerged last week that the Arbitration Court with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry had terminated a case filed by KG Maritime Shipping which demanded amendments to the privatization contract. The case was closed in favour of the State. The implementation of the privatization contract will be reviewed in December and a penalty of about 58 million leva may be imposed on the owner.

The NFSB claims the amendments drew support from a tacit majority made up of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms and the Volya party, based on economic interests. Boris Yachev said only the NFSB wanted the lobbyist provisions rejected.

Yordan Apostolov said Ataka (of the United Patriots coalition), which sponsored the contentious provisions, had been ready to withdraw them, but GERB objected and they were put to the vote. "Don't look for differences in the United Patriots, it is the United Patriots and GERB that are at odds," he said.

GERB rejected the allegation that it had made a gift of 58 million leva to the Domouschiev brothers. Danail Kirilov, Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee, denied that GERB had made any amendments to the two provisions. He said he had acted as required by the rules of procedure.