site.btaCaretaker Agriculture Minister Hristanov: Attacks on Cabinet Linked to Fair Elections

In an interview with Darik Radio on Saturday, caretaker Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Hristanov said the attacks against Stoil Tzitzelkov, who resigned on Friday as Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Fair Elections, were an attempt by formations that do not want fair elections to destabilize the entire caretaker cabinet.

Hristanov said the cabinet had a clear programme that all ministers would follow to ensure free and fair elections. "To anyone who sees free and fair elections as a problem, let me be clear: you will not succeed this time," he said.

Hristanov described Tzitzelkov as Bulgaria’s leading expert on electoral processes, arguing that there was no better candidate for the post. He said the attack against him had been conducted in a "rather trivial" manner and revolved around everyday matters.

Hristanov added that he did not want to justify actions such as driving "in one condition or another," but said it was "laughable" for someone at such a high level to be "taken out" for such reasons, given past cases of ministers who had faced investigations for proven offences.

Asked about a claim attributed to the European Commission that Tzitzelkov had been removed from international election observation for five years, Hristanov said he doubted the information, noting that Tzitzelkov had observed elections and, as far as he knew, was due to travel this month to observe elections in South America.

He added that he was not familiar with the details and said he would look into the matter, then the officials responsible for the relevant portfolio could respond.