site.btaGERB Leader Borissov Does Not Expect Split in CC-DB Coalition after Issue with Sofia Borough Mayors

Approached for comment on Sofia borough mayors quitting Continue the Change, GERB leader Boyko Borissov told journalists here on Wednesday: "I do not know these mayors. What I see in these two years is that nothing is being done in Sofia. I guess that is what the borough mayors see." 

On Monday, the mayors of the Mladost and Lyulin boroughs and two municipal councillors from Continue the Change (CC) left the party on the grounds that they had been pressured by the CC. Kiril Petkov, co-chair of Continue the Change, pledged structural measures within the party to prevent further internal disruptions following these resignations. Leaders of the Democratic Bulgaria (DB) coalition, with whom CC are part of a parliamentary group, expressed serious concerns to their coalition partner over the resignations, citing flawed personnel decisions as a key issue. 

Borissov answered in the negative to the question whether he expects a split in the CC-DB coalition after this case. He also said that a minister has been threatened for public contracts by Bozhidar Bozhanov, leader of Yes, Bulgaria within the Democratic Bulgaria coalition.

"Not only is this not pleasant and does not cause any excitement, but this disintegration and this disillusionment and this showing of the true nature of these people could play us a very bad joke next year for the presidential elections," Borissov added. He said hundreds of thousands of people are disillusioned with the CC-DB, and this could affect their participation in the presidential elections next year and possible support for an Euro-Atlantic candidate. In his words, what these people want is a prosecutor, the counter-corruption commission, the police to protect themselves. 

He recalled that the CC-DB had already gathered to determine how the presidential candidate would be chosen between the two parties. They are certainly aware that without GERB they cannot have a president, and when the public sees the corruption in their ranks, they will not come out and vote. And the risk is for the public to go and vote not for GERB, not for DB, but for another party. Then they put the presidential elections at risk," Borisov argued. 

"If we are serious about winning the presidential elections and preserving the orientation that the Government has at the moment, we must really look at the problem very seriously, to stop with these public procurement and scams," the leader of GERB said. 

Asked about the municipal councilors who left the CC in Dobrich and joined GERB, Borissov noted that they were totally disappointed with the CC. "There are a lot of applicants, but I am looking to drive them away, because this pollutes the blood of our structures," the GERB leader added.