Corporate interests against the smoking ban

The previous Bulgarian parliament had planned to introduce a smoking ban in all bars and restaurants on June 1, but the current majority faction, the centre-right Gerb party, wants a relaxed form of the law. The weekly Kapital criticises this: "They sit in the plenary assembly and on its various committees like the one for health and for Europe policy and enjoy privileges like immunity and other state high-protection measures. But they won't reveal their former corporate employers - be it in the name of the people, of health or of the united Europe. On the contrary, they serve them loyally, giggle cheekily into the microphones, do real estate deals, eat meatballs in the canteen and puff away endlessly at their cigarettes. ... Back to the past - that's where the MPs are bringing society by relaxing the already approved total ban on smoking in public places."

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