The Bulgarian parliament has adopted amendments to the Rehabilitation Law of 1945 which provide for the return of some 500,000,000 levas to Jews who lost property under the pro-fascist regime.
Under the revised law, property forcibly sold to pay special “Jewish taxes” will be returned or compensation will be paid. Sums up to 50,000 levas will be paid in cash, while the balance will be paid in six annual bond installments, carrying three percent interest. It is estimated that some 5,000 Jewish families will benefit from this provision.
In addition the government will pay to the Jewish consistory 50,000,000 levas besides the 30,000,000 levas paid last year as compensation for personal belongings stolen from 30,000 individuals. Immovable property forcibly sold will be returned to the Jewish owners. It is expected that 4,000 property owners will benefit to the extent of 250,000,000 levas from this provision.
Jewish workers dismissed during the pro-fascist regime will be eligible for pension and other social security claims despite the fact that they were unemployed and did not pay anything into the government insurance fund. This will benefit at least 10,000 workers.
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