The Chairman of the Commission for Personal Data Protection Mr. Ventsislav Karadjov announced today at a press conference the official findings of the inspections of political parties, coalitions and initiative committees that have submitted documents for registration to participate in the elections for the European Parliament. He explained that the Commission does not divide parties into large and small, parliamentary or extra-parliamentary. The law treats equally all political subjects and penalties for them are the same type and in the same size.
The Chairman of the Commission for Personal Data Protection said that political parties are data controllers and they have to implement clear and precise rules for personal data storage. „On our website we inform in full the citizens how to take care about the security of their personal data. We call them to be more active and cautious when provide their personal data”, added Mr. Karadjov.
The Commission for Personal Data Protection continues working on 493 complaints of citizens who reported to the Commission that their personal data are unlawfully used in party petitions for registration and participation in the EU elections. „Currently, we collect evidences. We have grouped together all complaints against a single political entity in a common legal procedure. It means that if 50 complaints are submitted against one political party, they are considered together.The Law for Personal Data Protection requires the Commission as a supervisory authority to examine all complaints and to do the most to protect the personal data of citizens as voters. If we do not do the necessary now, the problem of May 2014 will be repeated in the next elections” said the Chairman Ventsislav Karadjov. He stressed that the Commission`s actions that are result of the inspections continue and actions related to the identified violations, as well the proposed penalties will be further announced in early September.
The press conference was held at the Central Military Club and was attended by representatives of the Office of the Vice President Margarita Popova, non-governmental organizations participated as observers in the inspections, and representatives of 45 political entities – parties, coalitions and initiative committees, which are subject to the inspections. Representatives of over 30 media, including TV with national and local coverage, covered the event.
