GERB leader Boyko Borisov announced that he “deeply believes” that his former finance minister Vladislav Goranov, who was included in the “Magnitsky” list for corruption, is innocent, while at the same time noting that his party has “dissociated itself from him”. .
This happened during a pre-election meeting with the party’s assets in Stara Zagora, where he gave a long speech in which he commented on all current topics.
On Friday evening, the US and Great Britain took “coordinated actions to eradicate corruption in Bulgaria”. The USA published a second list under the global “Magnitsky” law, which, in addition to Vladislav Goranov, also included the former minister of energy in the BSP governments Rumen Ovcharov, the chairman of the Russophiles movement Nikolai Malinov and the former directors of the Kozloduy NPP Alexander Hristov Nikolov and Ivan Genov, who is also a former MP from the BSP. In addition, Great Britain punished three of the first “Magnitsky” list – the former MP from the DPS Delyan Peevski, Ilko Zhelyazkov, who is close to him, and the gambling boss Vasil Bozhkov.
According to Boyko Borisov, the inclusion of Vladislav Goranov in the list was not due to corruption, but because GERB did not fulfill its promise in the last days of the parliament to support the law of the Minister of Justice Krum Zarkov on the responsibility of the chief prosecutor. This happened not because deputies from GERB did not want to support him, but because the co-chairman of “Democratic Bulgaria” Hristo Ivanov set a trap for them.
“I want to remind those who gloat that even then he (Goranov – note ed) was dismissed as a minister and MP and has not been on any party list since then. We as a party can differentiate ourselves to that extent. If there is evidence, the authorities should investigate”Borisov commented.
Again he repeated several times that neither he nor GERB received money from gambling boss Vasil Bozhkov. “If somewhere someone has received – let them be responsible. I and the party have not received a penny”Borisov said.
“I deeply believe that Goranov is not guilty. I feel so sorry for his children and I hope he proves his innocence. But that’s the reason. It is an effect of the cause. I can’t believe that we were outplayed”added the GERB leader.
He explained how he stayed up all night thinking about why the US and UK were hitting GERD.
“Actually, this is the big mistake of my deputies. This makes me think that in the next parliament I should stay. They think that GERB outplayed “We continue the change” and “Democratic Bulgaria”. Quite the opposite, my dears. They outplayed you , because we as a party have made a commitment to carry out the judicial reform even in the remaining few days. But you, like young rabbits, ran straight into the mouth of the wolf. This is the cunning move and maneuver of the experienced wolf Hristo Ivanov, of Kiro and Asen… What did they do “They didn’t enter the hall. And you, deluded by the euphoria… the most important law, and they don’t register. And for Europe and America – if GERB promises, it happens… I felt it, but it was already too late. I would have put you back to vote and Krum Zarkov would have passed the law, but I was 20 minutes late. Because believe me – I talk to the important people in America quite often – they expected this to happen in these few days. Because they know that with these nice people of theirs who hang around Washington and look for someone ugh to take pictures… They know they didn’t do anything. Neither were they in the hall for “Jemcorp”, nor did they vote for the F-16, nor for the American nuclear reactors. They don’t count. The number of us, and we got out. We allowed ourselves to be played instead of accepting Krum Zarkov’s law”Borisov explained.
He reported that GERB did “many things” – for North Macedonia, for Ukraine, for nuclear fuel.
“But the last three days they outplayed us. This is the reason. And there is no forgiveness there. That’s why – on the very first day of the new national assembly we support – we bring, we bring – we support Krum Zarkov’s law. Because in Jim O’Brien’s statement (head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination at the US Department of State, note ed.) it is called – the law of the Council of Ministers. That is why we support the EC law, whatever it is. Radoslav Cholakov will not philosophize to me, he will not explain to me about the Constitution, about the law… that it was wrong and will bring us problems… He brought us to us, because we have promised. I can’t believe we were outplayed. Everything else is over, here we are.”said a visibly angry Borisov.
He stated that he does not know if anything happened during gambling during his time, but he wants to see what happened in the two years when GERB was not in power.
Borissov repeated his accusations against “We continue the change” that they took commissions to import Russian gas through intermediaries, for the export of weapons and for the high prices of diesel and gasoline.
“BGN 100 million per day are the losses! One sports hall in Stara Zagora is the losses from the difference in the price of gasoline and diesel. And the US will see it. Because if Goranov is blamed for millions, we blame them for billions! And one day we’ll post and gloat”Borisov said.
He did not fail to note that he maintains close relations with the United States.
“Only 2 days ago, at the reception at the state embassy, GERB was an impressive group led by me, and there were three of them. We were 11-12 people, and all of us who are in the legal, military commission…”Borisov said.
He ended his speech with the summary that in the elections GERB will be “a bit like Levski – alone against everyone”.
