site.btaGERB-UDF MP Toma Bikov: Replacing Regional Governors Does Not Guarantee Fair Elections, Government Impartiality

Commenting on Monday's appointment of new regional governors by the caretaker government, Toma Bikov MP of GERB-UDF said this approach did not guarantee the government's impartiality. He told reporters: "We have no issue with the replacement of regional governors. What we said is that all 28 out of 28 regional governors are directly affiliated with Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB). Almost half of them are regional leaders of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria [part of Democratic Bulgaria], while all the rest have previously been candidates for Parliament and participants in elections."

"We believe that Andrey Gurov's government will work in the interests of a single political force, CC-DB, as is evident from these appointments. They could have included at least three or four people who were not so directly connected to them," said Bikov.

He also commented on demands for the replacement of the Interior Ministry's Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General, saying that the GERB party does not trust this government.

On Tuesday, Interior Minister Emil Dechev said that Georgi Kandev takes over as the Ministry's acting Deputy Secretary General. Dechev said he would not propose a permanent Secretary General.