SEVEN senior Government officials had to explain in writing to Prime Minster Simeon Saxe-Coburg on Monday the circumstances under which they had purchased state-owned apartments in breach of the law, and what they intended to do next.
Their options were returning the flats, paying their real market price, instead of the small sums they paid, or resigning.
Minister of State Administration Dimitar Kalchev, Cabinet press director Tsvetelina Uzunova, Cabinet chief secretary Sevdalin Mavrov, the youngest MP of the ruling National Movement Simeon II Gadar Hachikian are among those who repented.
"I was wrong! I am ready to return the state-owned apartment if I have to," Hachikian said in an emotional statement to reporters in Parliament. "I don't think I have violated the law, only the court could decide this. I refuse to be called a national thief at the age of 26." Hachikian was reported to have purchased a 100 sq m apartment, at the prices for state administration, although, under the law, she is single and is not entitled to a flat of these proportions. What is more, according to the current State Property Act, a deal is void if candidate buyers own another apartment or house fit for permanent residence.
Hachikian said that she received the apartment with the permission of Saxe-Coburg and with a sale contract signed by Sofia regional governor Rossen Vladimirov who in this case acted as a notary. "I would not dare to doubt the competence of the Prime Minister and the regional governor," Hachikian said.
She added that she was used in a carefully-planned PR campaign launched by the Government. "The moment when this whole affair started was very carefully selected just before the vote of no confidence and NATO accession."
Sofia regional governor Rossen Vladimirov said he would return the flat he got. It is a 160 sq m apartment which Vladimirov bought for 61 121 instead of 73 354 leva, as per the tax assessment. Half of the sum he paid with compensation vouchers.
Kalchev said he would do whatever Saxe-Coburg wanted, but added that he had paid the highest price for his apartment as compared to the rest of the group of seven. Kalchev was ready to pay extra, if necessary.
"I have acted in full compliance with the law. To submit my resignation means to admit I have breached the law, yet no one has told me so far what law I have broken by purchasing this apartment," Kalchev told Radio Free Europe.
Last Friday, Kalchev also said that some of those who had purchased cheap state-owned apartments were considering voicing their disagreement in conversation with Saxe-Coburg about the conclusions of the special commission appointed by the Prime Minister to investigate the acquisition of the flats.