Strategies are for the players, we are not players, but people dedicated to a cause. The mission of all Bulgarians is clear and our task is to follow this cause, not to build any specific strategies with which to win these elections in a certain way. These strategies are inherent in other political parties. We saw who the players are, we saw what their actions led to in governing the state.
This was stated in "The Day Begins" on BNT Ivan Demerdzhiev - former interior minister, part of the “Progressive Bulgaria“ coalition.
He denied that there was a strategy of silence for the new coalition.
"You know, I think there is a bit of speculation about attributing some very specific strategy of silence to the president and the “Progressive Bulgaria“ coalition.
Nothing like that - in fact, the lists were released at the same time as the lists of other political parties and coalitions. Yesterday I registered the lists in Kardzhali and saw that this was happening at the same time as the other main political parties.
So, I think that there was rather a hysteria around this, but I would like to emphasize that it is not about a strategy. Strategies are for the players, and we are not players, but people dedicated to a cause. This cause was outlined by the president, who has been exercising his powers as president for 9 years.
The mission of all Bulgarians is clear and our task is to follow this cause, not to build any specific strategies with which to win these elections in a certain way. These strategies are inherent in other political parties. We saw who the players are, we saw what their actions led to in governing the state."
Demerdzhiev emphasized that there are no concerns about the leaders on the lists of "Progressive Bulgaria".
"I will say again that we have no concerns precisely for this reason. When people go to the polls and stand there and vote, I think they will be guided by the actions of every single person included in these lists. The president was very clear in his messages and actions for 9 years. Many of us participated in official cabinets appointed by him, and we also don't need to explain at length what we will do, because we have done it during certain periods. People know our work. It was also well appreciated."
"BNT: Does it bother you that names that were once GERB candidates or in the ranks of GERB are appearing?
- I am more concerned by the fact that the smallest details are being sought in the biography of each of these lists, while there are entire lists of other political parties that include very interesting subjects. And when I was Minister of Internal Affairs, I was amazed that there were also people there for whom there was operational data that they were buying votes, they were on the lists to be protected. They are not on the lists to attract votes, they are not there with the classic need to attract public approval. Well, most often this happened with the lists of the MRF then, now "DPS - New Beginning", the GERB lists also included such persons."
According to the former Minister of the Interior, the decisions on the candidacies were made by Rumen Radev.
"I say again — there is operational data in the Ministry of the Interior. When the processes of organizing the elections begin, certain people who are involved in such practices are monitored, and we were very surprised when we found such people on the lists. Because this gives them immunity and this hinders the operational work regarding them.
Mainly President Rumen Radev — I say "the president" because here I open a parenthesis: this is according to protocol and I intend to follow the protocol in my addresses, not for any other reason. He had the final say in determining these lists, as a person with the necessary political experience and vision. Otherwise, the proposals came from each of the electoral regions."
"Look, I can be responsible for myself in all my capacities — deputy minister, minister, deputy prime minister, minister of the interior. No one has led me and I have not allowed, unlike many after me, anyone to lead processes from the background. So from this point of view, I am completely calm. I can look people in the eye. And now I would not allow anyone to lead processes from the background, if I were entrusted with responsibility."