site.btaInstead of Giving Answers, Rumen Radev Issues Threats About Election Integrity, Say Yes, Bulgaria Leaders

Ivaylo Mirchev and Bozhidar Bozhanov, the co-chairs of Yes, Bulgaria, part of the Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria coalition, have rejected Rumen Radev's claims that the caretaker government is illegitimate and that its request for European Commission support against hybrid threats during Bulgaria's April 19 parliamentary elections amounts to manipulation, the coalition's press office said.

They once again urged Radev to take part in a debate and answer key questions on tackling corruption and the country's geopolitical orientation. Speaking from the entrance to the Seafront Park in Varna, where they were holding campaign meetings, the two also invited GERB leader Boyko Borissov to join a public debate among citizens.

"I hear that Rumen Radev has said the caretaker government is illegitimate. On the contrary, it is legitimate, a normal government, and beyond its operational duties it has one key objective: to ensure fair elections," Mirchev said. He added that Radev must answer many outstanding questions and is avoiding debate, just as Borissov is, "because he is afraid of it".

Bozhidar Bozhanov added that earlier on Tuesday, Radev had posted "a rather unusual, perhaps slightly panicked" update on Facebook, in which he spoke of election manipulation, almost as if the elections were "captured", and referenced a "Romanian scenario" and other such claims. "I want to reassure Bulgarian citizens that nothing of the sort will happen. Anyone who tries to frighten people with such scenarios is playing on their fears to rev up support," Bozhanov said.