The National Assembly has adopted at first reading amendments to the State Agency for National Security Act. The main purpose of the amendments is reestablishment of some of the powers of the agency and making more effective both the defense of the national security and the counterweight of the trans boundary and internal organized crime and corruption.

The bill tabled by Sergey Stanishev, Lyutvi Mestan, Mihail Mikov and Hristo Bisserov was supported by 114 deputies, 83 voted against.
The amendments foresee transfer of the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDBOP) from the Interior Ministry to the State Agency for National Security (DANS). The power of the Agency to conduct investigations is reestablished as is the power to arrest and search suspects.

The bill envisages the National Assembly to appoint and lay off the President of DANS on proposal of the Prime Minister. The term of office of the DANS’s president is set at 6 years instead of the current 5. The Agency is to have 3 vice-presidents instead of 2 as is in the present law.