Two reports on the work of the Interior Ministry will be released this week - one compiled by Interior Minister Roumen Petkov and the other by Parliament's committee on internal order and public security.

On April 1, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev gave Petkov 10 days to draft a report on the ministry's work for the past 18 years and make reform proposals. It was Stanishev's way to react to the opposition's calls for Petkov's dismissal in the light of the scandal concerning information leaks from the ministry.     

A week later, two days before the deadline, Petkov presented the report to the senior partner in the ruling coalition, the Bulgarian Socialist Party. “The frequent dismissals of ministry staff undertaken by all governments are the main reason for the ministry's problems,” the report said, according to mediapool.bg. Political interference was another reason for the problems.

The report said that corruption was a major problem. Petkov suggested keeping the ministry off the list of institutions that can use special surveillance means. The use of such methods should be restricted to the newly-created State Agency for National Security. The report acknowledged the fact that there was a complete lack of civic control over the ministry's work. 

The report is expected to be discussed on April 9 2008 at a meeting of the ruling coalition council.

On the same day, April 8 2008, Parliament's committee on internal order and public security was scheduled to discuss and pass a report on Petkov's “field work as a police agent”. On March 23 2008, Petkov said he had held meetings with people under investigation in full knowledge that his meetings and phone calls would be tapped.

“I did it in the best interest of the ministry and the country,” he told Bulgarian National Radio at the time. His words, however, prompted doubts whether a minister should act as an agent. Initially, Petkov received Stanishev's support, who said that the meetings he held were in not violation of ministry regulations.

On April 6 2008, President Georgi Purvanov also expressed confidence in Petkov organisational skills, but added that "Petkov should concentrate on monitoring and controlling the work of the ministry, rather than field work”.    

The committee's report was expected to pass judgment whether Petkov's meetings with people under investigation were a breach of ministry procedures. With 13 votes in favour and 12 against, the committee decided to postpone its session without naming an exact date when it would examine the report again.