site.btaLoyalty, Not Professionalism, Now Key Criterion for Caretaker PM Appointments, President Says

The primary criterion for selecting positions that appear on the so-called list of potential candidates for caretaker prime minister is loyalty, President Rumen Radev told journalists on Friday, ahead of his visit to the Terem – Ivaylo plant in Veliko Tarnovo, specialized in production and repair of military and civilian equipment. His comments come a day after the Constitutional Court once again failed to reach a majority decision on the constitutionality of amendments adopted at end-2023.

“The assault on the Bulgarian Constitution carried out by the assemblage [word that is often used for the former government of Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria and GERB, and its support from MRF, when the speaker wants to underscore its perceived unprincipled nature] continues to distort both the political landscape and the exercise of power in Bulgaria,” the head of State said. “We are witnessing how a government that has lost legitimacy and public trust, and has effectively collapsed, continues to exert even more aggressive control through its own caretaker cabinet,” he added.

The president went on to criticize what he sees as a troubling shift in how key administrative roles are being filled: “We recently saw another consequence of these constitutional changes – how the selection of individuals for important administrative posts is no longer based on professionalism but rather on loyalty. These are people who may be tapped to serve as caretaker prime minister,” the President said.

“These are the flaws of the recent constitutional amendments, and the Constitutional Court failed to address them,” Radev stressed.

The head of State once again emphasized that the ruling parties have denied the people the right to hold a referendum (ed. on the euro adoption). This means they are solely taking responsibility for the inflation, Radev added.