site.btaVelichie Says Nomination of Andrey Gurov as Caretaker PM Is Step toward Fairer Elections

President Iliana Iotova's choice of Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) Deputy Governor Andrey Gurov as candidate for caretaker prime minister is a step toward fairer elections, Velichie leader Ivelin Mihaylov said on Wednesday.

"This is a step toward fairer elections," Mihaylov told journalists in the corridors of the National Assembly. "He is a counterpoint to the other potential caretaker prime ministers, who are a continuation of this government that stages spectacles in the plenary hall by saying it will regulate prices, while through its oligarchic-mafia model it crushes competition and makes normal prices for the Bulgarian people impossible," the MP added.

In the plenary hall, lawmakers are hearing from Competition Protection Commission Chair Rosen Karadimov, Consumer Protection Commission Chair Alexander Kolyachev and National Statistical Institute Deputy Chair Svilen Kolev regarding rising prices of certain goods and services and unusually high electricity bills for some customers.

According to Mihaylov, Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria MP Boyko Rashkov would be the best option for caretaker interior minister. "We know that they have strained relations with [GERB leader] Boyko Borissov, which is a counterpoint to the current policy," Mihaylov said.

Mihaylov also commented that staff in the Interior Ministry cannot be replaced quickly and that corruption has penetrated even to the lowest levels.