site.btaPresident Radev "Pressuring" Media, Says MRF–New Beginning Leader Peevski

President Rumen Radev is exerting pressure on the media, said Delyan Peevski, leader of MRF–New Beginning, on Friday. “Is there pressure on the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) from the President?” Peevski asked rhetorically in the corridors of Parliament, then immediately answered his own question: “Yes, there is.”

“Rumen [Radev] is pressuring the media, throwing a fit over the replacement of the heads of the security services—his people—who’ve been covering up for 'Koprinka' [reference to the name of the President's Domestic Policy Secretary Nikolay Koprinkov, allegedly involved in corruption through public procurement] and the whole gang,” said the MP.

Peevski also commented on the proposed legislative changes affecting the National Service for Protection (NSP), due to be debated later in the day. These changes would strip the NSP of its duty to provide transport for the President's administration.

“No presidential cars—none belonging to Rumen [Radev]—are being taken away. It’s the administration, which has been running wild and travelling in ultra-luxury vehicles,” said Peevski.

“I watched him losing it yesterday [Thursday]. A pathetic sight. He’s still wandering around trying to find a place to hide just so someone will cover him,” the MP added.

President Rumen Radev responded Thursday by accusing Peevski of “hijacking” the security services with the help of his allied parties. His remarks come in light of legislative amendments stipulating that the heads of the State Agency for National Security (SANS), the State Intelligence Agency, and the State Agency for Technical Operations would be elected by Parliament rather than appointed by presidential decree. 

The National Assembly on Thursday approved, in both first and second readings during a single sitting, the proposal that the head of SANS be elected by Parliament upon nomination by the Council of Ministers.