site.btaUPDATED PM Gurov: "Cabinet's Ability to Hold Fair Elections Is under Attack"

"I put my trust in everyone joining this Cabinet, assuming that they join with a clear conscience, and today I accept responsibility for this choice," Bulgarian caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov told a news briefing at the Council of Ministers on Friday after accepting the resignation of Stoil Tzitzelkov as caretaker deputy prime minister.

"After a conversation with Stoil, we decided that this is the right decision so as to defend the people's vote and the trust in the government's efforts to create conditions for holding fair elections. I appreciate his readiness and responsibility," Gurov explained. "We will carry on, we will be working for fair elections, and I will inform you shortly of the government's decisions to this effect," the PM said further.

"Regrettably, Stoil Tzitzelkov was denied an opportunity to prove his expertise in work and action. At the point at which he assumed this responsibility, he was empowered to do his job and harness his expertise to the task of holding fair elections," Gurov said, adding that he does not doubt Tzitzelkov's integrity.

"Fair elections are indeed a cause that is greater than any of us, than any minister and government, and we are behind this cause," the PM said. "When I invited Stoil Tzitzelkov to be deputy prime minister in charge of fair elections, I counted on his expertise and experience of holding elections and of monitoring elections in many other countries. I don't have a court register, and I can't check things that the Minister of Interior can," Gurov said, apparently referring to reports that Tzitzelkov had a record of an arrest for marijuana use and another detention in custody for driving under the influence of alcohol.

"I see how people are attacking Stoil Tzitzelkov. Nobody is attacking him for lack of experience. The target of the attack is clear. It targets the cabinet and our ability to hold fair elections. His readiness and the determination by which he tackled this process were crucial as far as I am concerned, and I thank you for this. Still, we are responsible for the elections and for creating and maintaining citizens' trust in the conduct of fair elections," the head of government explained.

He noted further that he had interviewed all cabinet members based on their expertise and readiness to pursue the objectives that the cabinet had set itself. In his words, Tzitzelkov was the right person for this task.