Sofia  - Bulgarian MPs who collaborated with the communist secret service will not be allowed to assume key posts in the national assembly, Bulgaria's new government decided Wednesday.

The proposal was adopted by 146 votes to 32. Parliamentarians with state security records will not be able to head parliamentary commissions or join international delegations.

The files of the notorious secret service were made public shortly before Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007.

However, secret service members remained on their posts, 20 years after the change of regime. Some were even posted to the European Parliament.

Before his re-election, president Georgi Parvanov was among those who acknowledged collaboration with the communist secret service.(dpa)