/ world today news/ Democracy and the rule of law are the foundations that we must restore, Rumen Radev said in his first address to the people and the National Assembly after taking the oath for a second presidential term
Current crises, which are being exacerbated and exploited from behind the scenes, should not distract attention from strategic priorities. My duty as head of state is to return the agenda to the long-term goals of the nation, far beyond the horizon of political mandates – the control of the demographic crisis; tackling poverty and inequalities; raising the standard and quality of life; spiritual development; ensuring sovereignty and security; the defense of national interests and dignity; affirming the positive image of our country abroad. This was stated by the Head of State, Rumen Radev, in his first address to the people and the National Assembly, after he and Iliana Yotova were sworn in before the 47th Parliament for a second term as President and Vice President.
In his address, Rumen Radev emphasized that the support of the Bulgarians for him and Iliyana Yotova is the most authoritative assessment of the complex decisions they made during the first five years of “Dondukov” 2. “The first presidential term took place in a dramatic time , in which the old, authoritarian model of government reached its apogee, while resentment grew in society against the corruption, lawlessness and propaganda on which it was based,” said Rumen Radev and singled out the civil protests of 2020 “against one-man rule, feudalization by places, scheming, the prosecutor’s umbrella over abuses and the crooked mirror of the media, against poverty, roadlessness and lawlessness”. The head of state pointed out that the citizens’ expectations from the presidential institution far exceeded the powers that the Constitution assigns to it. “We had to simultaneously catalyze social transformation, but also to be a pillar of stability in a period of acute crisis of confidence in the political class,” said Rumen Radev.
According to the head of state, the protests have unleashed the process of restoring democracy and legality, but dismantling the bequeathed power model will take time. As challenges for society in the coming years, he identified restoring trust in institutions and dealing with partisan administration, corrupt media, unpunished corruption, abuse of power and deep social stratification. “It is naive to think that after more than a decade we have allowed corruption to grow and arbitrariness to spread, from today to tomorrow we will return Bulgaria to the track of law and democracy,” President Radev said from the parliamentary rostrum.
In his address, the head of state emphasized that the first prerequisite for the success of the society is the freedom and dignity of the individual. “Democracy and the rule of law are the foundations that we must restore,” said Rumen Radev. He expressed his conviction that there is an “anti-mafia consensus” in Bulgaria, uniting the vast majority of respectable Bulgarians, and although the citizens voted for many different parties, they were guided by one hope: for justice and legality.
“In the future, the country should not be managed through the screen, under the table, over the phone or behind the scenes. Corruption must be crushed in order for us to survive as a country and a society”, emphasized Rumen Radev and pointed out that there is now a historic opportunity to return Bulgaria to the path of law. According to the president, all other good intentions depend on this, and without strengthening the statehood, our country cannot develop its enormous potential. “Parties and politicians who share the cause in Bulgaria to establish the rule of law and a healthy and transparent media environment, to build a well-regulated state with effective institutions, can count on the understanding and support of the presidential institution,” emphasized Rumen Radev and again stated that without a quick, decisive breakthrough in the reform of the prosecutor’s office and the judicial system, the way will be opened for a return to the status quo.
The President called for clearly expressed political will and constitutional changes, which should not be limited only to the revision of the judiciary in the direction of responsible and effective prosecution, but should also include the expansion of civil participation in the management of the state and the strengthening of guarantees for the protection of human rights . “After three decades since the beginning of democratic changes, we should show maturity in our conviction that the main constitutional value is the person,” added Rumen Radev and emphasized that democracy is incompatible with public apathy. According to the president, the strengthening of statehood requires strengthened constitutional guarantees for the separation of powers and a transparent and predictable law-making process. It is time to give the municipalities a chance for economic and social upliftment by constitutionally guaranteeing financial decentralization, appeals the head of state.
Dealing with the demographic catastrophe was identified by the president as another strategic goal for which consensus is needed. “Our nation is experiencing the transition as a trauma comparable to war. It is time for long-term, financially sound policies to reduce the death rate, increase the birth rate and limit emigration. Charity cannot replace state care. The market and PR cannot compensate for the lack of working social mechanisms,” emphasized Rumen Radev. According to the president, a consensus should also be formed around the cause of an enlightened and educated nation. “This is a long-term investment that will not bring a political dividend to our generation of statesmen and public figures, but it is a duty and a historical task that cannot be postponed,” noted Rumen Radev. The President also called for a change in the healthcare model towards quality and affordable healthcare, in which the patient’s health is not a commodity, and young doctors and nurses do not leave Bulgaria.
In his address, the head of state highlighted the need for an accelerated transformation to a new economic model based on science, innovation, production with high added value, as well as the provision of clean, affordable and predictable energy. The President also insisted on a stable and predictable regulatory environment, protection of property and competition, promotion of entrepreneurship and investments. Rumen Radev pointed out that state support must be provided for Bulgarian culture, which we rely on to build spiritual values and unite the nation.
In his address, the president said the agenda of the government and parliament is now “obsessed” with dealing with a cascade of crises and their social, economic and political consequences. “I remain open to dialogue and share responsibility for difficult and unpopular but necessary decisions. However, I will continue to be critical when I find the decisions of the legislative and executive authorities to be incorrect,” said President Rumen Radev in his address to the people and the National Assembly..
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