Former labour minister Emilia Maslarova has asked Parliament to strip her from her MP's immunity from prosecution, Bulgarian news agency BTA said on November 6 2009. Maslarova made her move after Prosecutor-General Boris Velchev filed a request with Parliament a day earlier, asking that her immunity be lifted.

Prosecutors will investigate Maslarova for alleged malfeasance in the days when she was social and labour policy minister in the coalition government led by Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader Sergei Stanishev. Maslarova is also a BSP member.

If proven guilty, she could face a jail term of up to 10 years and a ban on public office. On another charge related to alleged embezzlement, Maslarova could be sentenced to up to 20 years, BTA said.

In her request to Parliament, Maslarova said that she did not want her MP's immunity to stand in the way of any investigation against her and she was ready to co-operate.

Ever since the new Cabinet of Boiko Borissov took office in July, Maslarova's name has often appeared in the media reports alleging embezzlement, which she has firmly denied as slander.

In August, however, prosecutors said that they would review all projects funded by the Labour Ministry's programme Beautiful Bulgaria, under which buildings that are cultural monuments were renovated, creating temporary jobs for the unemployed.

Beautiful Bulgaria's budget for 2009 was 66 million leva, with almost the entire amount earmarked and 24 million leva already paid out. Early in 2009, Stanishev's cabinet allocated a further 15 million leva for the repair and construction of buildings. When leaving office, Maslarova said that the project had created 14 000 jobs.

Prosecutors also began investigating other deals done by the ministry under Maslarova, one of which was the Centre for Social Services in Stara Zagora, where numerous violations had been found. Just for door-signage, 35 000 leva had been allocated.

The contract for the repair of the centre was won by Stara Zagora 2007, a company allegedly linked to Maslarova's partner. The contract for the door signage was signed only days before Maslarova left office. The centre was renovated for 19 million leva at about 2700 leva for a sq m.

Maslarova denied all allegations, saying she would sue those who accused her of any wrongdoings in the media.

Maslarova is the second former cabinet minister under investigation to give up her MP immunity. Former prime minister Stanishev is under prosecution for alleged leaks of classified information. He voluntarily gave up his immunity from prosecution on November 3.