site.btaMRF Leader Chakarov Leaves Politics' Frontlines after Meeting with Delyan Peevski

Dzhevdet Chakarov is leaving the parliamentary group of Democracy, Rights and Freedoms - MRF (DRF-MRF) both as its floor leader and member, it transpired on Tuesday. In a statement sent to BTA, Chakarov said that following a conversation held earlier on Tuesday with MRF – New Beginning Floor Leader Delyan Peevski, he has decided to step down as chair of the MRF party in order to put an end to the division among the people.

"My only goal is to overcome hostility and bring people together. For the same reason, I have decided to step down as floor leader of the DRF parliamentary group, as well as to leave the parliamentary group entirely," Chakarov stressed. "Before making my final decision, I informed DRF’s senior leadership," he added, expressing gratitude to the team he worked with.

Earlier in the day, MRF – New Beginning said in a press release that Chakarov resigns as chair of the MRF party following a meeting with Peevski. According to the press release, the two leaders held a deep and constructive conversation, during which they agreed that the chapter of division and confrontation that has marked the past months must be closed. Both underscored that the people, and resolving their problems, must remain the central objective of every political party and formation. As such, MRF must emerge united and stronger than ever from this crisis. "Unity in the name of the people and the integrity of the party is the only path that can ensure the fulfilment of all commitments and expectations placed by voters," the statement said further.

Delyan Peevski and Dzhevdet Chakarov were the two chairmen of the MRF until the party split in July 2024 into two factions, one loyal to MRF founder and honorary chairman Ahmed Dogan and currently represented in Parliament by the DRF-MRF group, and another faction led by Peevski and currently represented by the MRF - New Beginning parliamentary group. Peevski and his supporters were expelled from the MRF on August 27, 2024. Peevski dismissed the decision as "contrary to the MRF Statute". In turn, Peevski's faction expelled Dogan and his faithful from the party on November 16, 2024.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of Cassation is expected to rule within the required time limit on the case regarding the Sofia City Court’s refusal to enter changes on the MRF record in the register of political parties. The motion, submitted by Chakarov, was for the striking off of Delyan Peevski as member of the MRF party, chair of the party, and member of the MRF Central Operational Bureau and the MRF Central Council.

Reactions in Parliament

The news of Chakarov stepping down triggered a meeting of the DRF at the capital's Central Hotel on Tuesday. “Everybody should know that this is a personal act,”  Ramadan Atalay MP of DRF commented on the news. He added that Chakarov's actions did not mean that the two MRF factions had united.

After a meeting of the Central Operational Bureau of the MRF party on Tuesday, the DRF-MRF group took several important decisions, Ilhan Kyuchyuk from the formation's Governing Council told journalists. The Bureau elected Hayri Sadakov as Floor Leader of the DRF-MRF, he added. "We will definitely not unite with corrupt political figures," he commented, referring to the meeting between Chakarov and Peevski.

Ivaylo Mirchev, MP of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria and Co-Chair of Yes, Bulgaria (part of the Democratic Bulgaria coalition), commented that Peevski has turned into a boss of a photography studio and Tuesday's photos with Chakarov look a lot like a hostage crisis. Mirchev was referring to the photos of Chakarov and Peevski accompanying the MRF - New Beginning's press release on their meeting. "This has been going on for months. Peevski, with the institutional bludgeons he has, is pressuring mayors, pressuring entire parties. In the end, they kiss his ring and take a picture with him. It all looks terrible, like a political monster that commandeers the entire political life in Bulgaria. This cannot go on like this, because it will end with [GERB-UDF Floor Leader] Boyko Borissov having the same fate as today's Dzhevdet Chakarov. Maybe not enough people are aware of that," Mirchev commented.

"The [ruling] majority is the same. I do not think any drama is going to come of this. Democracy, Rights and Freedoms has extremely weak parliamentary activity even now," he believes. "Peevski controls the majority of the National Assembly, maybe with the exception of our parliamentary group. It is possible that they will decide to change the rules in any way they can. We will resist, but it is time for the public to finally see through what is happening in the State. Otherwise, we will end up with an authoritarian regime like the one in Hungary. We cannot allow this," Mirchev added. Borissov could most likely be the next one to be photographed in Peevski's studio, he added.

Continue the Change Co-Chair Kiril Petkov commented that Chakarov looked like he had been taken hostage by terrorists. "What we are seeing lately is the same photo, just with different mayors – Peevski is always standing next to them," Petkov said, adding that, based on available information, state institutions such as the anti-corruption commission are being used as bludgeons. "That is terrifying," Petkov noted. When asked who the institutions were being used against, he responded: "I assume against Dzhevdet Chakarov himself or his son, based on what we are currently reading. Online news outlets suggest his son is being pressured. But in any case, we know this cannot be his free will. What I promise our voters is that you will never see us in such a photo. We believe that no matter how many charges [acting Prosecutor General Borislav] Sarafov invents against us, we will not break, because the only way forward for Bulgaria is through free people who can stand up and say a firm 'no'," Petkov continued.

Asked whether Chakarov’s resignation could lead to reunification of the two warring MRF factions, Petkov said that in his view, such a move would be "a betrayal of their electorate". Questioned on whether the balance between parliamentary groups might change, Petkov said it depends on how many of them can withstand the pressure. "I’m sure of one thing – the path will be hard and long, but all free people must be able to rise and say a firm 'no'," he added. "This will be our guarantee – you will never see our MPs in a photo like that, like someone taken hostage by terrorists," concluded Petkov, referencing the photo of Chakarov from his meeting with Peevski on Tuesday.

Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh) Floor Leader Radostin Vasilev argued that Peevski "is ready to do anything to split other projects". Vasilev added that as of Wednesday he expects more division in the DRF, as Vasilev is sure that breach in the parliamentary group is not limited only to its former floor leader Chakarov. The MECh leader also said that the prosecution service "is currently used in the most brazen way to attack those who are dissenting" and highlighted the news, broken earlier on Tuesday by the Capital weekly, that Chakarov's son has been indicted by the Sofia City Court on May 22.

The aforementioned Capital article states the following: "Dzhevdet Chakarov's move to Peevski's camp came clearly under pressure. A pre-trial order of the Sofia City Court makes it clear that his son Sami Chakarov is a defendant in pre-trial proceedings led by the Counter-Corruption Commission and the Sofia City Prosecution Office. [...] There have been seizures". 

Petar Petrov MP of Vazrazhdane commented that what happened with Chakarov is typical of how Peevski operates, and that the only thing that could possibly change is when Peevski will finally be indicted.