/ world today news/ Dialogue is being imitated in the political life of Bulgaria at the moment. At the same time, the country needs left-wing solutions that are not expressed only in changes to pensions and wages. We need measures to overcome inequality, to strengthen democracy, to protect freedom of speech, for the lack of justice, against an inverted pyramid of demography. Therefore, on Friday in Sofia, the Delegation of the Bulgarian Socialist European Deputies organized a forum for progressive left-wing solutions. This was announced by MEP Elena Yoncheva in an interview with BNR.
Among the participants in the event are representatives of the European left, ministers in the government of Galab Donev, mayors and municipal councilors from the BSP, trade unionists, political scientists and sociologists, defenders of women’s rights, former people’s representatives from the socialist party, coalition partners, etc.
As a rapporteur for the group of socialists and democrats on the project for a European Act on the freedom of the media, Elena Yoncheva will speak about the legislation to protect journalists, which is being prepared in the EU. It was presented at the end of last year by the European Commission (EC) and is already being actively discussed in the European Parliament. European Commissioner Vera Yourova announced that she was encouraged and inspired for the project by her meetings with Elena Yoncheva in 2019.
The MEP proposes in the European act, which will be in the form of a regulation, i.e. mandatory for all member states without interpretation, to provide for measures not only for transparency of media ownership, but also for their sponsors and advertisers. European funds, which are distributed by governments, should reach the media according to specific rules, so that they are not directed at those close to power, that journalists are not persecuted and eavesdropped, etc. The battle will be great, it will not be easy. This is the beginning, commented Elena Yoncheva.
For a long time, journalists in Bulgaria believed that it was better to self-regulate, but we all see what the situation is at the moment. We all feel sorry for what is happening – there is real political interference in the work of the media, the market is divided between the powerful of the day, who dictate what reaches readers and viewers, because of the pressure, journalists are self-censoring, she pointed out. Obviously, rules are needed in order for Bulgarian journalism to get closer to European examples, Elena Yoncheva also said.
She was adamant that social networks cannot replace the media, which look for different sources of information, have a critical view and investigative functions. If there is no informed civil society, there is no way for the state to develop, commented Elena Yoncheva.
Asked about the explosion that went off next to the car of the chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev and the request of Maria Gabriel, named by GERB as a candidate for prime minister, for her government to demand his resignation, she said that first the expertise should show what exactly happened on May 1 2023. This is also the general position of the MEPs from the monitoring group for democracy of the EP, which discussed the case. Elena Yoncheva is the only member of the group from Bulgaria.
MEPs are demanding that Europol play an active role and that European experts be invited to help the investigation. When there is a base to stand on, then political declarations can be made. Now we are in the field of speculation, said Elena Yoncheva.
The removal of the chief prosecutor should not be directed against the person of Ivan Geshev. Replacing one figure with another, without reforming the judicial system, is not the way Bulgaria will move forward, she was categorical.
To contact the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the EP:
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