Ethnic Turkish MP Mestan: No Strong State in Divided Society

The leader of the parliamentary group of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, Lyutvi Mestan. Photo by BGNES

The language of hate and animosity is a challenge similar to the economic crisis, Lyutvi Mestan from the ethnic Turkish DPS party declared Tuesday.

Mestan spoke as the leader of the parliamentary group of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) during the official opening session of the 41st General Assembly.

"The 41st General Assembly faces the challenge of disallowing hate to turn into a political category. Disagreement is a political category, not hate," Mestan pointed out, adding DPS had the support of 610 521 voters despite the unprecedented anti-DPS campaign.

In comparison with 2001, DPS had expanded the voters' trust by 75%, which is a phenomenal increase, and a stark proof that attempts to strike the party's 20-year-long contributions to the country would fail, according to the DPS parliamentary leader.

"The attitude towards the DPS vote is fundamental and crucial for the normal functioning of Bulgarian democracy and a measure of political culture. The DPS supporters are part of Bulgarian people, but are they an integral part? To see the DPS vote as unequal means to see those Bulgarian citizens as unequal. There isn't a strong State in a divided society," Mestan said.

He vowed the DPS strong support for all anti-crisis measures, but added the party will maintain its own parliamentary profile.