The debate over the ban for smoking in public places sparked again after the appointment of the new government in Bulgaria. Representatives of the Bulgarian Social Party said they supported smoking in places where special areas for smokers are designated. The Ataka party offers the current ban to be completely lifted. MPs from the MRF party also voiced support for the ideas of liberalization. However, according to the leader of the party Lyutvi Mestan, the issue is still to be thoroughly discussed. Even some MPs from the GERB party which previously introduced the full ban on smoking now say they would prefer a more liberalized regime. This means that the chance of the full ban on smoking being lifted is high.

The atmosphere of the 42nd National Assembly also supports this claim. When opening the doors to the offices of any of the political parties, cigarette smoke is the first thing one sees and smells. According to supporters of the ban, lobbying is responsible for bringing the issue back to the agenda of the National Assembly.

The Coalition for Life without Tobacco smoke says that according to data by the National Center for the Study of the Social Opinion, 61 percent of the Bulgarians support the ban on smoking in public places. Here is what Dr. Emanuil Naidenov told us: “Smokers are 25 times more at risk of developing lung cancer and other lung diseases. This confirms the truth that smoking is harmful to health. The data about heart diseases are similar. The expenses for the treatment of such patients are much bigger than the revenues of the tobacco companies. Removing the ban will be a mistake and a harmful decision for the social health. We aim to prevent these diseases and that is why the Association of Neuro-Oncology is against liberalization of the current laws.”

According to Rumen Draganov, of the Institute for Analysis of Tourism the ban on smoking has not affected negatively the business. The Bulgarian Association of Hoteliers does not support full lifting of the ban but wants separated spaces for smokers and non-smokers, instead. The Association of Bulgarian Tour Operators does not support lifting the ban, too saying it actually should stay if Bulgaria wanted to attract tourists from the middle European class. A return to the previous rules would also be a bad sign for the foreign tourists, experts say.

English version: Alexander Markov