Fifth unsuccessful vote of no confidence against the "Zhelyazkov" cabinet, in just eight months. United opposition, but divided lawmakers. Blocked entrance to the National Assembly and protests, in the other camp, protection of the ruling party - there is no alternative.
What is it to be "first among equals" when tension and scandals are everyday life and what are the important steps ahead for our country? The topic was commented on by the Speaker of the 51st National Assembly, Assoc. Prof. Natalia Kiselova, in an exclusive for “This Sunday“.
“Some of the colleagues believe that there are problems in the sphere of internal affairs, in the judiciary, and call the country conquered. In fact, this is part of their political agenda“, she said.
Regarding the clashes in front of the parliament during the week with the participation of representatives of “We continue the change“ and Delyan Peevski, Kiselova said:
“What they actually showed is that they are seeking attention and raising an issue that is not the subject of the work of the National Assembly, because the measure of non-detention of their member - the mayor of Varna is in the hands of justice - the Court of Appeal in Sofia. In this way, it is shown that the protest is not always directed at the right addressee. But somehow they managed to attract attention“.
“If we have to look for a term to explain what is happening in our country right now, in my opinion the political crisis has subsided and is flaring up with new force. And in fact, the fact that parties that were in power are now in opposition, or those that are now emerging, want to have wider representation and therefore claim that the state has been conquered or that the parliament is illegitimate - in this way they want to get wider representation. It's just that within a democracy we have to tolerate election results. If they are illegitimate, as some of my colleagues claim - why are certain parliamentary opportunities being fully utilized? On the other hand, there are problems in society, outside the parliament - yes, that's true. There is violence and I think there is no dispute about that“, commented Natalia Kiselova.
According to her, the strongest defense of this government at the moment is responsibility.
"In such a difficult moment, both last year and at the present moment, the issue of everyone feeling uncomfortable in certain situations does not replace the understanding that there should be responsibility for how the state is governed. And I think that Bulgarian citizens see this", she pointed out.
When asked whether the feeling among some citizens that the decisions are made by “DPS-New in the beginning“ and the party's chairman Dalyan Peevski, who are not officially in government, Kiselova stated:
„If you look at which sector these accusations or statements come from, you will see that this comes from those MPs or parliamentary groups that were either part of a joint government format, because "DPS-New Beginning" in the previous parliament was not part of the so-called assembly, but was part of the constitutional majority. So let's look at which issues and in which direction the decisions are made when it is supported by the parliamentary group of "DPS-New Beginning". Agree that Mr. Delyan Peevski, as the chairman of a parliamentary group, also wants to attract attention“.
"I did not get the impression that the Prime Minister is being told what to do", the Speaker of Parliament pointed out.
"If we are already - how to put it discreetly, talking about someone calling someone, I can tell you that other parliamentary groups, not only me, but also ministers - by position I mean deputies, are called most regularly, because each member of parliament wants something for his electorate, for their village, their street or city", commented Natalia Kiselova.
"We work well with the president and the vice president", she specified.
"The president can decide to make a political effort at any moment, but he is already in politics - even if he does not think that way, because the president has the right political statements, but if it takes any such steps, this is of course a matter of the future", Kiselova pointed out.
Regarding the budget, she stated:
“This is the most difficult law that the National Assembly has to consider, discuss and adopt in the autumn session. All the government's efforts will be directed firstly to ensuring that the state manages to have enough revenues to cover expenses, secondly - to ensure that the transition to a change in the currency is relatively smooth. And last but not least - the National Assembly is adopting a number of laws that will provide us with a second and third payment from the PVU, because this is money that has been delayed for too long and we should not lose it“.