Judicial reform, so that there are no more Bulgarians in “Magnitski”, he advises. Ambassador O’Brien is waiting for Parliament to vote on a mechanism for the Attorney General at its start
Let the parties of the war win the elections and form a government, let them take responsibility for the decision to hand the army weapons to Ukraine. Former MPs, who understand absolutely nothing about military affairs, are doing their best to involve us in processes of escalation that they cannot control.
This is how President Rumen Radev commented on the impeachment threat that Atanas Atanasov made a few days ago. The co-chairman of the DB has already consulted with lawyers whether the head of state can be removed ahead of schedule on the grounds that he violates the constitution by not respecting the will of the parliament on military aid to Ukraine.
Radev recalled that in the decision of the 48th National Assembly on aid, which the official cabinet carried out, it was clearly written that the next provision of armaments must be tailored to the Bulgarian capabilities.
He is adamantly opposed to being given from the army reserves. “I continue to believe that this conflict has no military solution and peace can only be achieved with an immediate ceasefire and dialogue,” Radev added.
The President defined the Magnitsky sanctions as a “strong political signal” that our country should accept as assistance from a partner. But he added that “Bulgaria is a sovereign state and
no one outside can make demands on us”,
and modern corruption knows no bounds. The best way to ensure that there are no more Bulgarians on the “Magnitsky” list would be for the next parliament to commit to justice reform and a real fight against corruption.
James O’Brien, the head of the Sanctions Coordination Office in the US President’s administration, also requested the same. On Monday, he spoke with Radev and the office, and then
he also had meetings with some of the parties
“The parties should reach an agreement on a specific text and commit to vote on it at the beginning of the new parliament, and then implement it in full. We want not just laws on paper, but Bulgaria to have an independent, impartial and responsible investigative service, an anti-corruption service, and a chief prosecutor,” he told BNR.
The sanctions aim “to strengthen Bulgaria’s choice, which deepens its integration in Europe and cooperation with global companies, as well as the diversification of energy sources.” He denied that they were undermining or circumventing the Bulgarian institutions or attacking any party. But he stressed that the persons on the list created a “parallel system that diverted a lot of money from people and hindered especially
reforming the Bulgarian energy system”
When asked if it is enough that the GERB leader distanced himself from his former finance minister, O’Brien answered: “We want them to stand behind the reform and for the MPs to support it. And I think that all parties have heard this message and we will see who will fulfill it”.
