site.btaGERB Leader, President Clash over Use of Government Aircraft

GERB leader Boyko Borissov and President Rumen Radev Wenesday clashed over how the head of State uses the government aircraft. 

Borissov suggested that the President is overusing the plane. The head of State would be leaving on another visit tomorrow and evidently the government plane was constantly flying, which is why Bulgarian citizens were brought back from Israel on a civil flight. “If you notice, he [Radev] is constantly flying and the international activities he carries out have enormous benefits for Bulgaria, like BOTAS,” Borissov said. He added that the contract costs the state BGN 1,050,000 per day, and “when we transport gas, the sum is even larger”.

The Presidential institution released a statement later the same day calling Borissov's words "cynical and untrue". "The evacuation of Bulgarian citizens from the Middle East is also being carried out with diplomatic efforts on the part of the Presidential institution. The Head of State did not in any way involve the government aircraft either during the preparations or during the actual evacuation of our compatriots from the region." According to the President's office, it is highly inappropriate for such manipulations to be made by a political leader when the lives and wellbeing of Bulgarian citizens are at stake. The office also refuted Borissov's claim that Radev had another international visit planned for Thursday.