site.btaParliament Chair Weighs In on Key Current Issues

Interviewed by bTV on Sunday, Parliament Chair Nataliya Kiselova commented on the latest confrontation between Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) and MRF-New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski, on parliamentary leadership, and on Bulgaria's relations with the Republic of North Macedonia.

Commenting on CC-DB's blockade of the entrances to Parliament's parking lot on Thursday to prevent the vehicles driving GERB leader Boyko Borissov and Delyan Peevski from entering, Kiselova said protests were "not always aimed at the right target, but still were successful in drawing public attention". As a parliamentary group leader, Peevski also wants to attract attention through some of his political statements and the actions of his group - just what other groups do to this end.

In her view, the political crisis is flaring up with renewed force. In search of broader representation, parties which were in government and are now in opposition, as well as parties that have only recently emerged, claim that the state is captured or that Parliament is illegitimate, Kiselova said. Within a democracy, however, the results of elections must be accepted. She was apparently referring to the latest no-confidence motion initiated by CC-DB and MECh over what they said were "failures in the sectors of internal security and justice, and worsening state capture".

Asked if she believes Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov is being told what to do, she said she had not been left with such an impression. "I can tell you that MPs from other parliamentary groups regularly call both me and ministers, because every MP wants something done for their constituency," Kiselova said.

Regarding the post of National Assembly leader, Kiselova said that it depends on support by the majority of MPs. "If the majority decides that the Chair is no longer performing well, that person can be dismissed at any time," she said.

Commenting on relations with the Republic of North Macedonia, Kiselova said that Bulgaria expects it to become a full EU member, for which Skopje must meet certain criteria. She stressed that North Macedonia must abide by the 2017 Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation, which forms the foundation of bilateral relations. "What is very often forgotten is that this is not about Bulgarian demands, but about a European consensus that includes commitments our neighbours were expected to fulfil," the Parliament Chair said.