/ world today news/ “What is happening today is a literal illustration of Levchev’s verse: “Indolence is fascism”, the Bulgarian MEP believes
Interview of Ivo Hristov, member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the EP (S&D)for the audiocast of “Focus” “This is Bulgaria”, 13.12.2023
How do you feel about the latest ideas of the Austrian government: to accept Afghan and Syrian migrants in exchange for the possibility of membership of the Schengen air?
The idea is unacceptable. De facto, she is proposing to turn Bulgaria into a migrant ghetto in return for the consolation of sparing us airport controls. And if we have fulfilled all the criteria for membership and there is no argument to be kept out of the zone. Austria feigns good will, but in fact its veto remains unchanged. But Prime Minister Denkov’s right-wing coalition needs at least some step forward, and I would not be surprised if the cabinet ultimately accepts the deal, because the assembly methodically sacrifices national interests and, with the help of the servile media, presents every humiliating compromise as its success. It is enough to remember how the veto over North Macedonia’s ambitions to join the European Union was lifted.
Is there a reaction in the EP to Austria’s ideas??
So far, no particular reactions are noticeable, but the Austrian proposal will probably be criticized in the EP. Which doesn’t change anything, unfortunately.
Why our Schengen membership is becoming synonymous with disappointment with the European attitude towards us?
Because Bulgarian naivety collides with the political realism of Europe, in which everyone defends his interest, while we naively hope for criteria, goodwill and solidarity. All Bulgarian governments have made efforts to enter Schengen, but national selfishness is on the rise in Europe.
The Austrians are not lifting our schengen veto, they just came up with a trick to get rid of 50,000 migrants hanging out on their streets. Is there such a cynical analogue in the history of the EU?
Unfortunately, Europe is moving away from its declared principles: peace, solidarity, prosperity. Italy is struggling alone with the migration flow and complains about the lack of solidarity. The union, which was created to ensure peace on the continent, has now been turned into a supplier of arms to Ukraine, and at a certain level the subject is seen not as a tragedy, but as an opportunity for the industries of the member countries.
Despite the clear position of Austria and the Netherlands, in our country they still hope. Is this realistic? What satisfactory solution will we look for in these negotiations, as Foreign Minister Maria Gabriel claims?
I do not think it is realistic to hope for a breakthrough, despite the efforts of the Bulgarian institutions. But the subject of Schengen should not be fetishized either, because the area itself is functioning badly, some member states have restored internal border control, and Schengen will obviously have to be reformed.
The sixth amendment to the Constitution passed its first reading in the Bulgarian Parliament, which includes: strengthening the independence of the court through structural reform of the SJC, reform of the prosecutor’s office, reform of the institution of the official cabinet, transparent election of independent regulatory and control bodies. What will be the usefulness of this reform?
The reform aims at strengthening the partyocracy and controlling the judicial power. She doesn’t answer our problems. The government in our country has no real legitimacy. Therefore, the parties seek to secure their future and their power. Our parliament and cabinet are elected by the votes of a very small number of voters, but they control our destinies because they are formally legitimate. Bulgaria has practically already lost its sovereignty. The word of ambassadors carries more weight than that of ministers and party leaders. We have no development strategy because collective irresponsibility thrives in the parliamentary republic, and it changes according to the colors of each successive fleeting parliament. But all these dramatic problems of legitimacy, sovereignty and collective irresponsibility are not the subject of constitutional reform, because it serves selfish ends.
You have repeatedly claimed that the way out of the Bulgarian chaos is the presidential republic. Wasn’t the moment missed for that??
And now I am convinced of it. We cannot escape the crisis with the current constitution and the current political class. The moment was missed, you are right, but the problem remains and I see no other solution. Institutional degradation is underway and the issue will be back on the agenda again, despite the mimicry of constitutional reform at the moment.
More and more voices are being heard about the need for a party for the head of state. The national movement is pointed out as a potential one „Third of March“, which arose in defense of the national holiday. What are the prospects for such a party?
There is a need. And a long time ago. The Bulgarians, who were hoping for a healing change, were deceived. First from the PP-DB, who mocked their voters, and then from “Vazrazhdane”, who tripped up Vanya Grigorova in the mayoral race for Sofia and gave the post to the right. A new party is needed. If and when I am not initiated.
In Sofia, the dismantling of the PSA began amid dramatic reactions and clashes. How much history’s mistakes cost us?
The dismantling of the PSA is a victory for the barbarians, who deprive the city of one of its symbols, erase from memory a historical era and its signs (the Mausoleum, the monument “Thirteen Centuries Bulgaria” and the PSA) and de facto rehabilitate fascism. Let’s not forget that all anti-fascist monuments in the country are scratched with swastikas. While the flex sculptures of Funev, Dalchev and Vaska Emanuilova are cut, Lukovmarsh is held annually, and hordes of Nazi-flag zealots march in Sofia every month. Today, these hordes can thank the liberal NGOs that destroyed the monument, because they are waging the same struggle.
The destruction of PSA is a victory of vandalism over memory and culture. Levchev used to say that talentlessness is fascism, and this is the literal illustration of the verse today. I feel guilty that we have not been able to stop the lumpen onslaught that is pushing society towards violence.
The most alarming thing is that the Ukrainian tragedy began in 2014 with protests by liberal politicians and far-right formations. We are observing the same thing now in our country.
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