The former Speaker of the National Assembly, Assoc. Prof. Natalia Kiselova, gave her first interview to BNT after the decision to step down from her post. She stated in the studio of "The Day Begins with Georgi Lyubenov" that it was not dictated by pressure, but by "respect for the institution and the desire to preserve the spirit of parliamentarism".
I am a lawyer, not a populist. I believe that the law must be respected, even when it is not politically convenient," said Kiselova.
According to her, the tension in the National Assembly is normal after the majority reformatting, but the consequences should not be underestimated:
"I am not surprised by Borisov's behavior - there is no need to comment. The important thing is that the institutions remain stable, because political configurations change, but the state must function."
Kiselova refused to comment on personal attacks, but emphasized that her decision not to allow the referendum on the euro was legally justified:
"The president may have his opinion, but I acted as any statesman would. My decision will be reviewed by the Constitutional Court and I have no concerns about that."
Asked about the state of the left, Kiselova commented that disagreement within the party is a natural process:
"Those who disagree currently have the opportunity to express themselves more strongly. I cannot say that the BSP is drugged, they are only throwing stones at a fruit tree," she said.
In her words, the BSP's participation in the government has not lost its meaning:
"My presence in the National Assembly was to show that we are not junior partners. But sometimes you have to take a step back to maintain respect."
Natalia Kiselova described the past months as "intense and difficult", but stated that there was no drama surrounding her decision:
"In politics, the price is always higher in the end than one imagines at the beginning. But if you entered with good intentions, you leave with a clear conscience."
She added that she has no ambition to return to high office.
According to her, politics should return to content, not spectacle:
"The goal of politics is not to put you on television, but to improve people's lives. Parliament must regain its spirit of respect and reasonable debate."