The Chairman of the National Audit Office should have not less than 15 years of professional experience in his/her field, the other members not less than 10 years. The provision was decided by the lawmakers of the Budget and Finance Committee at a sitting where they have discussed the bill amending the National Audit Office Act to make it ready for second reading.

They have decided the 9 members of the audit office to be elected by the National Assembly for a term of 7 years. The chairman and the members should have higher economic or law education. It was decided that the chairman of the audit office won’t be reelected beyond the 7-year term.  

The proposal for persons who have been cabinet members, lawmakers or heads in the central or local administration to not be elected as head or members of the audit office stirred controversy. MP Rumen Gechev suggested to not adopting this limitation which exists in only 3 of the 28 Member-Countries of the EU.

MP Menda Stoyanova agreed to not adopt the limitation in regards to previous members of parliament but said former leaders in the state or local authorities could find themselves in a situation of conflict of interests in case they were asked to audit a period when they themselves have been ministers or vice-ministers.