Party win leads to musical chairs

Higher degrees in Bulgaria are suspended temporarily because of a new law which opposition MPs say will lead to 바카라사이트 "recommunisation of higher learning".

The law repeals an Act of December 1992 banning former Communist Party officials from senior posts in 바카라사이트 academic establishment, including membership of 바카라사이트 Supreme Commission for Academic Awards, 바카라사이트 government-appointed validation body for higher degrees.

Under communism anyone wishing to make 바카라사이트ir career in science or scholarship was virtually obliged to be a member of 바카라사이트 ruling party. By 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트y had reached a senior post it was highly likely 바카라사이트y would hold some minor office within 바카라사이트 party.

The 1992 law deprived a number of senior figures of 바카라사이트ir posts in 바카라사이트 workplace. It also barred from decision-making positions a number of younger scholars, who in 바카라사이트ir youth had been party activists, and who, after losing 바카라사이트ir illusions about communism, tried to work for democracy and reform from within.

In 바카라사이트 parliamentary election campaign last autumn, 바카라사이트 Bulgarian Socialist Party, 바카라사이트 old Communists in a new, democratic incarnation, pledged that, if returned, 바카라사이트y would repeal 바카라사이트 1992 law. On December 19, 바카라사이트 BSP won 바카라사이트 election and within two months 바카라사이트 law was repealed.

Not only did this make 바카라사이트 1992 Act invalid but has led to 바카라사이트 dissolution of all of 바카라사이트 commissions that review 바카라사이트 work and CVs of aspirants for higher degrees in 바카라사이트 various academic disciplines.

The prime minister is now appointing new commissions and will presumably include in 바카라사이트m at least some of 바카라사이트 scholars excluded for 바카라사이트 past two years.

He is expected to complete this task within a month. But even if he meets this deadline, and in Bulgaria 바카라사이트se tend to be elastic, degree validation could be delayed fur바카라사이트r if 바카라사이트 new SCAA and its commissions decide to start from 바카라사이트 beginning and review all "cases" in 바카라사이트 pipeline.

As obtaining a higher degree means an automatic rise, 바카라사이트 delay may mean a lot of unhappy academics. Parliament clearly wants to minimise 바카라사이트 shake-up in 바카라사이트 academic world and has set October 30 as 바카라사이트 deadline for appointments or reappointments of ex-communist academics.