site.btaVazrazhdane Will Not Support Bulgaria's Involvement in Iran Conflict, MP Ganev Says over US Refuelling Aircraft Proposal

Vazrazhdane is the only political force that will not support Bulgaria's involvement in the conflict with Iran, the party's deputy leader and Deputy Parliament Chair, Tsoncho Ganev, told reporters on Monday. He was commenting on Prime Minister Rumen Radev's statement that the government would ask Parliament to authorize the deployment of US aerial refuelling aircraft at Bezmer Air Base.

"We are witnessing an unprecedented situation in which, in addition to Bulgaria's participation through NATO in the war in Ukraine, the country is now set to become indirectly involved, or rather to continue participating, in the conflict and military operations in Iran," Ganev said.

He noted that Parliament would vote on the proposal and said his party had "no illusions" that, in addition to the 131 MPs supporting Radev, the deployment of the US aircraft would also receive backing from GERB-UDF, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), Continue the Change, and Democratic Bulgaria.

"Vazrazhdane is the only political force that will not support Bulgaria's involvement in this war. We are categorically opposed," Ganev said. He also recalled that, several months ago, Iran had warned that it reserved the right to attack any country from whose territory US military aircraft conducted operations.

Ganev also said that, during the election campaign, Radev had spoken out against the deployment of such aircraft but was now putting forward the same proposal.

"Will [former GERB-UDF prime minister Rosen] Zhelyazkov once again be blamed for the proposal to involve Bulgaria in the war in Iran?" Ganev asked. He argued that the proposal was unprecedented because it was made not at NATO's request but at the request of another individual state, with the specific purpose of allowing aircraft to be stationed at Bulgarian air bases and used in military operations against Iran.

Ganev further described as "cynical" Radev's argument that Parliament should decide on the proposal.

"Saying that Parliament should decide is cynical on Radev's part, because he has an absolute majority. Let's not blur the issue by saying Parliament made the decision. No, Parliament did not make the decision - Radev did," the Vazrazhdane deputy leader said.