Bulgarian Socialist Chief Lauds Govt's Tolerance

Sergey Stanishev, leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, of the Party of European Socialists, PES, and former PM, photo BGNES

Media and journalists are abusing the tolerance of Bulgarian Prime Minister, Plamen Oresharski, to launder their guilty consciousness, according to the country's Socialist leader.

Speaking in a TV interview Monday morning, Sergey Stanishev, leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, of the Party of European Socialists, PES, and former PM, stated media blindly served the previous government of the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB, and have now become very brave as the current Socialist-led Cabinet was tolerant and respected freedom of speech.

He explained that his personal cause in politics was to end the repressive model of rule of GERB and its leader, former PM Boyko Borisov.

Regarding the decision of the Constitutional Court to officially allow lawmaker and media tycoon Delyan Peevski to return to Parliament as MP, Stanishev stressed it was high time for Bulgarians to learn to respect institutions.

The Socialist leader added he found it strange that the right wing was insisting on having rule of law in the country, but at the same time wanted to argue against the decision of the Constitutional Court.

Stanishev explained the persisting parliamentary deadlock with GERB's refusal to act as real opposition, adding BSP wanted dialogue with them, not confrontation.

"The only impossible outcome is coalition with GERB because our values and ideas are way too much different. But the voice of the opposition must be heard," he concluded.

The appointment of Peevski, a lawmaker and shady media tycoon, as Chair of the State Agency for National Security (DANS) on June 14 triggered mass protests in Bulgaria, ongoing for nearly four months now.

The cancelled appointment brought up the question of whether Peevski could return to his previous post of MP from liberal and predominantly ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms.

Center-right party GERB initiated a lawsuit, insisting that Peevski could not retain the capacity of MP because he had been sworn in as DANS Chair.

However, DPS argued that Peevski had not assumed office and had not had the opportunity to start fulfilling his duties and was therefore still considered an MP of the party.

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