On the air of "Offensive with Lyubo Ognyanov" on NOVA NEWS, Ivan Krastev – former deputy social minister and leader of the "BSP-United Left" list in Stara Zagora – commented on the internal party processes, the upcoming elections and the current political situation.
Two weeks ago, the socialists elected Krum Zarkov as the chairman of the party, and today the National Council approved the new leadership and the leaders of the lists for the upcoming vote.
Krastev congratulated the new leader on the balance achieved in the Executive Bureau. According to him, the different ideological currents, generations and regions in the party are represented in it. “We have generational and regional balance. This leadership reflects all age groups and intra-party trends“, he emphasized.
Ivan Krastev also commented on the predictions of some right-wing analysts that the BSP may not enter the next National Assembly. According to him, such a scenario would mean “political lack of alternatives“. “If the BSP does not enter parliament, Bulgarian citizens will be faced with a model – right, further right and far right. The BSP has always been an alternative to this model“, he said. Krastev emphasized that the party traditionally protects vulnerable groups and working people.
He recalled that the BSP entered the government in coalition with GERB and “There is such a people” in order to ensure balanced development within a clear program period. According to him, a number of priorities of the socialists were set in the government program and a significant part of them have been implemented. “I believe that we did not make any mistakes or scandals from the perspective of our participation in this coalition“, Krastev added.
Regarding the caretaker government, Krastev noted that it is too early to give it a comprehensive assessment, but in his opinion the cabinet seems politically unbalanced. He pointed out that it includes figures with clearly expressed right-wing positions, including Stoil Tsitselkov and Andrey Yankulov. According to Krastev, Tsitselkov's resignation was necessary in order to preserve the prestige and integrity of the government.
Regarding Yankulov's position on the removal of Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov, Krastev stated that there are high and fully justified public expectations for the judicial system. “You cannot dispense justice and have doubts about your legitimacy. Yankulov's position is correct and has our support“, he emphasized.
Commenting on the intentions of Interior Minister Emil Dechev to demand resignations in the Ministry of Interior system, Krastev said that such actions should be carefully considered. “Unprincipled changes cannot be made if the local leaderships have worked legally and in support of citizens,“ he said.