Radev Denies Blocking Cooperation with Government, Blames Borissov for Political Divide

Risida Dimitrova, Nikolay Trifonov

President Rumen Radev at graduation of 2025 class of the Faculty of Dental Medicine at the Medical University in Sofia, September 26, 2025 (BTA Photo/Vladimir Shokov)

Sofia,

26.09.2025 13:52

(BTA)

President Rumen Radev told reporters on Friday that it is absolutely not true that he does not want to cooperate and work with the government. The head of State welcomed the 2025 graduates of the Faculty of Dental Medicine at the Medical University in Sofia at the National Palace of Culture.

"How am I to blame that Borissov is not prime minister? How am I to blame that over the years he has allowed himself to become terribly dependent on [Movement for Rights and Freedoms Floor Leader Delyan] Peevski, not only politically," Radev said in response to a comment by GERB leader Boyko Borissov that the President uses every possibility to speak out against the government.

“Since day one of this government, I reached out and contacted the prime minister, ministers, both in writing and verbally. I organised round tables with business and educational institutions on how to build a prosperous Bulgaria with new technologies, how to attract investment together, how to improve the country’s image together so that we can convince companies to invest in Bulgaria, how to achieve higher economic growth. I have brought investors in,” Radev said.

“I’ve invited ministers, but they are banned by Borissov from attending these events. They are banned from appearing wherever I appear. Even if they have announced that they will attend, when I show up somewhere, his ministers start running round like headless chickens, on his orders,” the President said.

The head of State added that ministers did not attend the signing of the declaration on raising Bulgaria-Japan relations the level of strategic partnership. President Radev and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba signed the document in Tokyo at the end of May.

"I would like to call on Borissov to ensure that the bags of money from Hemus [motorway] are returned. He knows quite well, he oversaw the construction of the motorways. He was a great builder, he personally supervised every day, he gave the money, he must know where the bags are. He should make sure they are brought back, we will be very grateful," Radev added.

In 2021, the Interior Ministry announced that some BGN 60 million for the construction of the unfinished Hemus Motorway, which is to connect Sofia and the Black Sea port of Varna, were transferred to shell companies' accounts. The money was then withdrawn via transactions of BGN 1 million each. The cash was taken out in bags.

/RD/