Bulgaria Ex Top Diplomat Denies Plans of Leading New Party

Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Ivaylo Kalfin, says he is not aware of any plans of the Bulgarian President to create a new political party. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's President, Georgi Parvanov, is not going to set a new party, Socialist MEP, Ivaylo Kalfin, declared Tuesday.

Kalfin, who is also a former advisor to Parvanov, and former Foreign Affairs Minister, spoke Tuesday for the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) addressing statements of Kolio Paramov, the ex economic advisor to Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov that Kalfin will be the leader of a new party set up by his fellow party member - President Parvanov.

“There is no such thing. I have not heart anything about the President planning a new party and I am not at all involved in such plans,” Kalfin said in the radio interview.

The reports about Parvanov's plan to remain active in politics upon the expiration of his second term by creating a new political project, began circulating after the President published the transcript from his Friday talk with Deputy PM, and Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov. The unprecedented move triggered calls for impeachment from the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party and the rightist Blue Coalition.

Kalfin said Tuesday that each official meeting of the President, such as the one with Djankov, is recorded and transcribed.

“Even people who just recently entered Bulgaria's political life, must learn that a public figure is just that – public and cannot afford to say one thing during his or her work hours, if they even have those, and then blubber whatever comes to their mind,” the ex top diplomat pointed out.

Kalfin's opinion is that the problem was triggered by the difference in the positions of Parvanov and Djankov.

The conflict between Djankov and Parvanov flared up after the appearance of the Finance Minister in the talk show of the TV channel Nova Televizia Monday night, where he was asked to confirm claims that the President is a “young billionaire” and has “dozens of luxury properties in the United States, Europe and Dubai.” Djankov immediately denied saying such things, but when the host reiterated the question: “Is the President a young billionaire?” the Minister replied: “He is definitely not young.” The very next day, Parvanov made an official call for Djankov’s resignation. In an instant reply, the Minister denied any wrongdoing, but nevertheless and on the insistence of PM Borisov, who arranged a meeting between him and the President, agreed to try to iron out the “misunderstanding.” On Friday, following the talks between the two, Parvanov published the transcript on his website triggering a wave of comments and criticism.

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