site.btaVazrazhdane Leader: Entire Caretaker Cabinet Raises Concerns

Vazrazhdane Floor Leader Kostadin Kostadinov told journalists in Parliament on Friday that every minister in the caretaker cabinet gives cause for concern, singling out as the most flagrant case caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Fair Elections Stoil Tzitzelkov, who should resign.

Kostadinov argued that the government represents a political arrangement between former President Rumen Radev, Ahmed Dogan [the Honorary Chair of the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms], GERB and Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria, adding that caretaker Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Hristanov is also a party leader. According to him, the cabinet lacks public trust.

Asked whether resignations are necessary, the Vazrazhdane leader replied that they are, but questioned why it had dome to the appointment of such a caretaker cabinet in the first place. He also said the head of State is empowered to refuse to appoint a caretaker cabinet and asked whether President Iliana Iotova and Radev had properly vetted the nominees.

Earlier in the day, Iotova told bTV that if approached with such a proposal, she would immediately decree dismissing Tzitzelkov over reports that he had a record of an arrest for marijuana use and another detention for driving under the influence of alcohol.