site.btaUPDATED TISP Leader Says bTV Can Fire Employees as It Pleases, as It Is Private Company

In a post published in his Facebook profile on Friday, shortly before midnight, There Is Such a People (TISP) leader Slavi Trifonov commented on the reports of two journalists and morning talk show hosts fired from bTV and the call for protests that followed earlier Friday. Trifonov stated that bTV being a private media means that it has the full right to fire any of its employees.

The leader of TISP wrote: "bTV is a private company, and regardless of whether it is Czech, Bulgarian, or Zanzibari, it operates under Bulgarian law. And as far as I remember, the Bulgarian Constitution fully protects private enterprise, free initiative, and the market economy." He argued that while Maria Tsantsarova, one of the journalists who were reportedly fired, has the right to like or not like a particular person, so does bTV also have the right to "hire or fire anyone it chooses, exactly because it is a private media and is protected by the Bulgarian laws".

Trifonov pointed out that while he was never employed by bTV, he used to partner with them, as they broadcast his late night talk show.

Trifonov continued: "In other words, this conflict is clear. BTV does not like who Tsentsarova likes, and the law gives it the right to fire her whenever it wants. [...] Everything in this story is clear, except why CC-DB (Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria) is protesting. Excuse me, it is a non-governmental organization that is protesting, but in fact, the protest is inspired by the number one protester in the country, which is CC-DB. So, since I am also a private entrepreneur, if I decide to fire someone and CC-DB doesn't like it, they will protest outside my office, is that right?".

Trifonov criticized CC Chair Assen Vassilev for letting his popularity get to his head and thinking that he can "rule over everything and everyone".

While on Friday night bTV denied the reports that Maria Tsantsarova and Zlatimir Yochev have been fired, the Association of European Journalists – Bulgaria called on journalists and the public to join a protest in solidarity with the two.