Bulgaria's Rulers Snub Ethnic Turks' Support for Mayor

GERB MP Krasimir Velchev has rejected the backing of the ethnic Turks for GERB's Gabrovo Mayor candidate. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria’s ruling party GEBR has refused the backing of ethnic Turkish party DPS for its candidate for mayor of the northern city of Gabrovo.

Earlier on Thursday, the predominantly ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), which is currently in opposition after being in coalition governments in 2001-2009, has extended its support to GERB’s candidate for Gabrovo mayor, Nikolay Sirakov.

However, Krasimir Velchev, Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Group of the GERB party and chair of the Sirakov’s campaign, has rejected the support of DPS.

Velchev declared, as cited by BNR, that his party has not had any talks with any political entity in order to ask for support of their candidate.

Bulgaria’s Gabrovo has to hold partial local elections as previous mayor, also from the GERB party, Tomislav Donchev, because Minister in charge of EU funds absorption in March 2010.

Media speculations and unconfirmed reports over the recent months have hinted about a backstage deal between Bulgaria's ruling party GERB and the ethnic Turkish party DPS. These have been promptly denied by GERB and PM Boyko Borisov, who portrays DPS leader Ahmed Dogan as his arch-enemy.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!