The “Zhelyazkov“ cabinet overcame the fifth vote of no confidence, submitted by PP-DB, APS and MECH. The failure of the vote was somehow predetermined, but what did the parties in parliament show with their voting… Dr. Eng. Rosen Tsvetkov, university lecturer and former deputy regional governor of Gabrovo (2017-2021), speaks to FACT.
- Mr. Tsvetkov, the “Zhelyazkov” cabinet survived the fifth vote of no confidence. This was expected, but we saw a united opposition. How do you view this?
- The opposition has signs of unification and some joint actions, but in my opinion this is not yet enough to overthrow the government. In my opinion, the main lines along which the government should be attacked are the following - that it is increasingly involving our country as a front line in a conflict between two fraternal peoples. They should also be attacked for purposefully distorting the data on inflation and deficit in order to get the coveted “yes” for the eurozone, in which, in my opinion – as I have said many times –
we are facing a scenario similar to the Greek one, namely a debt spiral and the provision of public resources to companies close to the government.
These are some of the greatest damages that this government has done. As far as I followed the debates, I did not hear enough criticism in this direction, and these are problems that affect every Bulgarian.
- Behind the fifth vote of no confidence are three of the formations in the National Assembly - PP-DB, APS and MECH. Do we already see closeness between these formations?
- Such closeness is possible, but I do not see many lines along which they would have faults in their basic policies and positions. Of course, time will tell whether they could carry out any more serious joint actions.
- „Vazrazhdane“ and PP-DB are voting together. Who is this better for?
- For me, this is a purely situational vote. The two formations have fundamentally different views on basic issues. I don't think they can reap dividends from this joint vote, since the electorates of the two formations are fundamentally different.
- The topic of the vote was “justice and internal security”. Mayors in custody, a beaten police chief… Do we live in a safe environment?
- No. We don't have elementary conditions for a person to feel safe both on the street and when driving. We see that the police, unfortunately, have turned into the Praetorian Guard of the government and blindly and servilely follow every order. And purely visually we see ordinary police officers who frankly look like “faces” from the 90s (tattoos, beards, etc.). I don't think that these people, who should be an example of behavior and morality, contribute to a safer environment.
- Delyan Peevski guarantees a full mandate for the cabinet. Will it happen?
- It is possible that it will happen if all our people are sleeping soundly. I believe that the immune forces of our people will work and this government will resign prematurely. They are simply trying to postpone the inevitable.
- When should we expect the next vote of no confidence?
- That depends on the opposition, but I strongly hope that it will be on the topic of our slow but sure transformation into a frontline state – as many foreign publications have already defined us. There is nothing scarier than war – This is not a walk in the park, as the talking heads in the media present it to us daily.
- Is the era of the separation of powers over, after the parliamentary Committee on Internal Security and Public Order supported on the first vote that the chairmen of the State Agency for National Security (DANS), the State Agency for Intelligence (DAR) and the State Agency for Technical Operations (DATO) be elected by a decision of the National Assembly and not appointed by a presidential decree?
- These are the next steps to hijack power and concentrate it in the hands of one person, who methodically controls not only institutions, but also mayors of small and medium-sized municipalities. All this is happening before our eyes, and we, unfortunately, look at these processes apathetically. One day we will simply wake up and we will all live not only in a controlled state, but we will also become people living in fear – and this is the saddest thing.
- What is the position of head of state becoming?
- They are trying to turn the presidential institution into a purely representative one, but I think that with these actions, which are specifically directed at President Radev, they are only giving him a reason for further actions and perhaps the moment is not far off when retaliatory measures will follow.