"Dear Boyko, dear Manfred, dear friends from GERB, and of course, dear candidates for the European elections, I am glad to be here in Plovdiv with all of you. It is a special honor for me to speak before you on a day when we pay tribute to the memory of your national hero Hristo Botev, who died yesterday almost 150 years ago. The poet who fought, lived and died for the freedom and independence of Bulgaria. Thank you, dear friends, for having the honor of being with you on this special day!", Ursula von der Leyen addressed the huge audience at the Ancient Theater of Plovdiv, quoted by novini.bg.
She thanked for the hospitality of the great Plovdiv and described the day as special.
Ursula von der Leyen noted her respect for the presence in the historic ancient theater and recalled that Plovdiv is the oldest living city in Europe. She also remembered her first visit to the country and how she was welcomed by Boyko Borisov in Sofia, where she also saw unique sights.
"Boyko proudly told me the story about the tolerance of the Bulgarians. A bright symbol of it is located in the heart of the center of Sofia: an Orthodox church, a synagogue, a mosque and a Catholic church are located within one square kilometer. All next to each other! This symbolizes the strong spirit of tolerance of Bulgaria and Europe. Let's keep it. But we also remember that it wasn't always this way. That is why the founding fathers and mothers of the European Union enshrined European values in our treaties. But today these values are again threatened by extremists and demagogues. Whether it is extremists from the extreme left or the extreme right. Whether it is about "Alternative Germany", about "National Reunification" in France, for "Confederation" in Poland or for “Revival" here in Bulgaria. They want to trample our values and destroy our Europe. But we at the EPP will never allow that to happen. Because "Union makes strength!", she told the hundreds of GERB-SDS sympathizers in the Ancient Theater.
The freedom and independence bequeathed by Botev, in her opinion, are values relevant both for Europe and for Bulgaria, where she meets many friends who want peace.
"Boiko and GERB are my great friends who are fighting against Russia's aggression in Ukraine," she emphasized and thanked them.
In his address, Layen revealed his ideas for the economic prosperity of Europe and the Bulgarians, whose voice should be heard in Brussels.