Bulgaria FinMin Caught off Guard by President Recording

After a plenary session in the Bulgarian Parliament, Djankov answered “no” to reporters questions about whether he had known his conversation with the President was recorded. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria Finance minister Simeon Djankov has stated that he didn’t know his scandalous conversation with President Georgi Parvanov was recorded.

After a plenary session in the Bulgarian Parliament, Djankov answered “no” to reporters questions about whether he had known his conversation with the President was recorded.

On Wednesday Bulgaria’s governing GERB party have announced that they will submit a request to Parliament for the initiation of the process for the removal of Parvanov following his move to publish the transcript from a private conversation he held with Djankov.

In Bulgarian law it states that “no citizen can be recorded without his knowledge or...except in cases provided by law”.

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 last 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, Socialist President Parvanov published the transcript on his website triggering a wave of comments and criticism.

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