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I am satisfied with the fact that the Constitutional Court has in practice decisively confirmed the request submitted by the interim Minister of Justice Yanaki Stoilov to the Supreme Judicial Council and at the same time confirmed the inconsistency of the decision of the majority in the SJC to reject this request as inadmissible. Now the question remains whether this majority in the SJC is morally and professionally fit. I am pessimistic that the SJC will make a rational decision in this composition. This is how President Rumen Radev commented on the CC’s decision.
You will recall that when I handed over the exploratory mandate to the current Prime Minister, I stated very clearly that if the coalition did not achieve a breakthrough with decisive reforms in the justice system, the past would seek revenge. That is exactly what we are seeing now. To me, this is a form of institutional blackmail. I expect the leaders of the parties in the coalition to stand resolutely behind the prime minister, Radev said on the occasion of the summons of Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, who is to appear for questioning at the prosecutor’s office today.
Regarding the work of the cabinet, the State Chancellor said that it was too early to make any assessments.
“The government is operating in an extremely difficult situation – a cascade of crises and a very heavy legacy from the previous rulers. It is an illusion to think that democracy and the rule of law will suddenly be restored. It will take time, the process is difficult, mistakes and disappointment are inevitable, but there is constructive cooperation between the presidency and the executive. I expect the government to be much more open, transparent and principled when making decisions and acting to remove any suspicion of backroom decisions and actions,” Radev said.
Regarding Bulgargas, he said that he expects the government to act transparently, SANS and CEWRC to provide all the information so that the public is informed in time to avoid any suspicions of behind-the-scenes actions.
Regarding the golden passports, the Head of State was adamant that this was a vicious practice that should be stopped.
“On the part of the presidency, the whole process is absolutely transparent. What is more, Mrs. Iotova initiated additional back checks of the documents that come to us so as to avoid any doubts. As far as the granting of Bulgarian citizenship is concerned – let us pay more attention to the processes and change the law so that Bulgarians from our Istrian communities abroad get passports more easily, not those who declare some fake investments,” Radev stressed.
Since I started representing Bulgaria in the Council of the European Union in May, the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians have been in the focus of all European leaders and the heads of the European institutions. They have begun to understand Bulgaria’s position. We must be uncompromising, because rights and the Copenhagen criteria are not negotiated, they are implemented. My position is clear – the Bulgarians must be listed alongside the other parts of the peoples that make up the nation of the Republic of North Macedonia before we start negotiations. We have seen enough declarations and promises. There must be clear constitutional guarantees alongside clear guarantees to remove any encroachment on the Bulgarian historical heritage,” Radev said.
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