site.btaVazrazhdane Leader Claims Foreign Influence Over Bulgarian Foreign Minister Appointments

Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said in a declaration in Parliament here on Friday that it was an “open secret” that Bulgarian foreign ministers are allegedly nominated by foreign ambassadors, and questioned who appointed the current foreign minister, Velislava Petrova. 

Addressing the Prime Minister from the parliamentary rostrum, Kostadinov asked who had appointed the foreign minister, describing her [Velislava Petrova] as, in his words, “acting like an employee of a foreign state” and calling the appointment “highly inappropriate.” 

He also raised concerns about possible talks with Turkiye, including alleged discussions on the concession of highways, and called on Prime Minister Rumen Radev to provide clarification on whether such negotiations were taking place.  

Kostadinov referred to a recent meeting between Foreign Minister Petrova and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, saying he felt “humiliation, shame and disgrace” over the way the Bulgarian side had received the Turkish delegation. 

He further accused Bulgaria’s neighbours of exerting pressure on this country, citing a recent visit by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and discussions on continued water supply arrangements, as well as comments attributed to Turkiye regarding energy and infrastructure projects linked to negotiations over the BOTAS agreement. 

According to Kostadinov, Bulgaria has faced a series of “blows to its national interest” in recent weeks, and he criticised what he described as the government’s foreign policy approach.