site.btaDemocratic Bulgaria MP Mirchev Calls MRF Chair Peevski and GERB Leader Borissov Security Decision Political

Yes, Bulgaria Co-chair and Democratic Bulgaria (DB) MP Ivaylo Mirchev said on Wednesday that the withdrawal of security details for MRF Chair Delyan Peevski and GERB leader Boyko Borissov showed such decisions were political.

He spoke on the sidelines of Parliament after Peevski and Borissov's protection was removed, despite a commission deciding about 10 days earlier that it should continue, and said the difference now was that the State Agency for National Security (SANS) chief had changed and no longer served Peevski.

This meant the decisions were political and were not based on professional and expert assessments, Mirchev said. Removing the security details saved millions a year, he added.

What happened was a good step, but from now on serious matters had to be addressed, for example the commission that was supposed to establish the 100 million gap in Peevski’s income between what he declared and the dividend his companies declared they had paid him, Mirchev said.

He added that the prosecution service continued to serve Peevski.

Earlier on Wednesday, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said the decision to withdraw the National Service for Protection (NSP) security details for Peevski and Borissov followed an analysis of data from the competent authorities.

Commenting on the decision, Peevski said he trusted the competence and judgment of state institutions, adding that it removed a propaganda line used by Continue the Change (CC) and Democratic Bulgaria (DB). GERB deputy chair Tomislav Donchev said the move appeared emotional, even political, and noted that Bulgaria has a long-standing problem with the security of former prime ministers. "The matter of Borissov's safety, as well as that of every Bulgarian citizen, is the responsibility of the State, the government, and the Prime Minister", Donchev said.