site.btaMinisters Refusing to Join Presidential Delegations Are Acting Against Bulgaria’s Interests, Says VP Iotova

Visiting the southern town of Madzharovo in the Eastern Rhodopes on Saturday, Vice President Iliana Iotova said that ministers who refuse to participate in presidential delegations are working against the interests of the country. Her remarks came in response to comments by GERB leader Boyko Borissov at the opening of GERB’s youth organization academy in Panagyurishte, addressing President Rumen Radev’s policy of not allowing ministers to attend events he participates in. According to Borissov, cabinet members independently choose not to participate because “the unifier never misses an opportunity to publicly criticize his political opponents, including ordinary MPs like myself”.

“Ministers do not want to join presidential delegations after the unprecedented attack Borissov launched against his own prime minister while he was attending a UN session in Washington. This is a second blow against the Council of Ministers,” Iotova emphasized. She added that if there are indeed ministers who personally decline to join a presidential delegation, Borissov should name them, as it is clear they are not fit for the positions they hold. “The president invites to his delegations people who can do work for Bulgaria. If they refuse to participate, it means they not only do not want to do their job, but are acting against the interests of the country,” the Vice President argued.

Commenting on Borissov’s statement that President Radev behaves more like a political leader, Iotova said this is part of an obvious campaign against the presidential institution. “We are on the eve of presidential elections, just one year away. Just as Mr. Borissov waged a war over the past 12 years against all political parties, both domestic and foreign, this will evidently be his style during the coming year as well,” she added.

Iotova stressed that the more important topic now is a serious discussion about Bulgaria’s upcoming challenges. “So far, none of the government’s and parliamentary majority’s bold promises, regarding a smooth transition to the euro, price control, or other challenges, have been fulfilled. The more institutions are created and their supervisory powers expanded, the less controllable the process seems to be,” she said.

According to the Vice President, Bulgaria’s position, both domestically and internationally, is important but currently unclear. “It seems that we are withdrawing from decision-making, both on the European and global stage. Repeating talking points dictated by European institutions is acceptable because Bulgaria is part of the EU, but I believe we can be a voice not only for others but for our own national interests,” she added.

Regarding Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov’s recent visit to the United States, Iotova said: “I saw no Bulgarian nuance in his statements, no distinct perspective that, in my view, a prime minister should present on such an important international stage. We need to find a way for Europe to regain its leadership positions. I expected the Bulgarian prime minister to speak in that direction,” she further noted.

When asked whether she would run for president, Iliana Iotova replied that this will be revealed at a later stage.