site.btaOutgoing PM Zhelyazkov Comments on Domestic, European Agenda Issues

Attending the informal meeting of EU leaders at Alden Biesen Castle in Belgium, outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov spoke to Bulgarian journalists about issues from the domestic and European agenda.

EU competitiveness

The Bulgarian PM said that the main issue concerning every European citizen was the cost of living. He explained that the cost of living in Europe was currently high because Europe had lost its competitiveness compared to the United States and China, and that efforts were underway to find the best solution acceptable to all EU member states. He added that competitiveness was now influenced primarily by energy prices, which were much higher than those of Europe’s main global competitors.

Caretaker government in Bulgaria

Responding to a question about the future caretaker government, Zhelyazkov said that the President faced a difficult choice due to the limited pool of potential candidates for caretaker prime minister. He said that, according to the previously set criteria, the candidate had to meet at least two conditions: to be able to organize fair and transparent elections, which required equal distance from all political actors, and to have the necessary administrative experience. He also described Andrey Gurov as a polite and well-educated colleague whom he had known from three parliaments in which Gurov had served as floor leader of the Continue the Change parliamentary group.

Board of Peace

Asked about the Board of Peace established by US President Donald Trump, Zhelyazkov said that everything had already been clarified through the government’s position and the publication of its decision. He added that all political decisions on the matter would be taken by the next regular government and the next National Assembly.

Interior Ministry and the Petrohan case

Zhelyazkov said that it was important first to gather evidence on all relevant facts and only then to make legal assessments, determine responsibility and decide on punishment. He stressed that society wanted quick answers and justice, but noted that institutions should be allowed to work calmly, as constant pressure could lead to mistakes being made in the pursuit of rapid conclusions.

He said he could not answer whether any of the victims had been linked to the State Agency for National Security. He added that, from a political standpoint, it was inappropriate to interfere in or comment on the investigation and its progress. According to him, politicians had already done what they could, as repeated claims, insinuations and speculation were being made several times a day, driven by political confrontation during the election campaign. He argued that this could neither help establish the objective truth nor speed up expert examinations.

Zhelyazkov also said that a new interior minister would be appointed within a week and expressed the view that law enforcement and judicial authorities should not be influenced by political changes in leadership from one week to the next, even when political disagreements existed.