site.btaMRF – New Beginning Provides Information on Salary of Security Guards of Its Floor Leader Delyan Peevski

MRF – New Beginning said on Wednesday that the security detail of the party’s Floor Leader, Delyan Peevski, is not larger than that of the President or the Prime Minister, that no millions of leva are being spent on his protection, and that the vehicle he uses does not belong to the National Service for Protection (NSP). The statement was issued in response to what the party described as “systematic speculation” by representatives of Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria (CC–DB) and their affiliates regarding the protection provided by the NSP to Peevski.

The party said that it had sent a letter to the NSP requesting information on the cost of Peevski’s protection. “In its reply, citing the NSP Act under which payrolls and employee remuneration are classified, the NSP provided general information indicating that the average gross monthly salary of commissioned officers is around BGN 4,000, while that of sergeants is about BGN 3,000. Four officers and sergeants are assigned to protect Peevski, the statement said, adding that the arithmetic thereafter is relatively straightforward,” the party said. 

MRF–New Beginning recalled that it is publicly known that in August 2023 the NSP provided protection to five high-ranking Bulgarian politicians due to a threat from foreign services linked to Russia. These were former CC chair Kiril Petkov, former DB co-chair Hristo Ivanov, leader of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria, Atanas Atanasov, GERB leader Boyko Borissov, and Peevski. This took place during the mandate of the so-called “assemblage” government [the ruling coalition of unwilling partners CC-DB and GERB], the statement said. The NSP did not comment on the grounds for granting the protection, citing that the information is classified.

Regarding the vehicle used by Peevski, MRF-New Beginning said that it is owned by the party and has been provided to the NSP for temporary and free use under a contract, in accordance with applicable legislation.

On December 10, Yes, Bulgaria Co-Chair and CC-DB MP Ivaylo Mirchev told reporters that CC-DB will submit a proposal to amend the National Service for Protection Act, which would ban the NPS from guarding MPs, with the exception of the National Assembly chair, in line with practices in other European countries. Mirchev added that the protection of Peevski should be removed from the NPS, arguing that it is illogical and based on a false signal.