site.btaPresident Supports “Every Just Protest”, But Doubts Common Front against State Capture

President Rumen Radev on Friday expressed support for all just protests in Bulgaria but voiced scepticism over the formation of a common front against state capture.

Speaking to the press in Veliko Tarnovo, Central Bulgaria, he said: “I support every just protest in Bulgaria. Unfortunately, however, the “assemblage” has driven a wedge into civil society, and it will now be very difficult to form a united front against the captured state.”

The "assemblage" is widely used in popular parlance as a reference to the previous regular government including GERB-UDF, Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF).

Some demand a referendum, others call for a fair justice system, but they [the assemblage] do not want the people to have a say in their own future, Radev said.

He warned that Bulgaria is unprepared and that the authorities are using delayed and demonstrative measures, mostly funded through loans. "BGN 16 billion has already been borrowed since the beginning of the year," he said.

"They are destroying the promising future they once guaranteed us, and in the coming years, Bulgarians will bear the consequences of negligence, incompetence, political self-interest, and the pursuit of personal recognition," he added.

Turning to healthcare reform, Radev said the rights of citizens to choose their place of treatment and medical team are constitutional rights affirmed by the Constitutional Court. He added that the authorities have a duty to introduce mechanisms to prevent the draining of the National Health Insurance Fund while ensuring that these rights are preserved.

While in Veliko Tarnovo, Radev attended a ceremony conferring officer ranks to cadets and presenting certificates to graduates of the 147th Slivnitza-Dragoman class at the Vasil Levski National Military University.

Later, Radev visited the Terem-Ivaylo military factory. He noted that the facility plays a key role in the modernization of the Bulgarian Army. He added that 33 Stryker combat vehicles are expected by the end of the year, and all will be assembled and equipped at the plant. 

Radev called this an important step both for the armed forces and for national industry, expressing hope that the preparatory work would be completed and the combat vehicles would be received on time.