President Georgi Parvanov (January 22, 2002 – January 22, 2012) congratulated Bulgarian women on the occasion of the holiday and expressed hope for more peace in the world in "This Saturday and Sunday" on bTV.
„Happy holiday to all Bulgarian women, to the more beautiful part of humanity. And hopefully fewer women will be crying by the rubble, as we see in the Middle East, in Ukraine or wherever," he said.
Is there a risk for Bulgaria?
According to Parvanov, there is currently no immediate danger to our country due to military conflicts, but society should not be too calm.
„I will utter the cliché that is always heard during such military operations not far from our border - there is no direct danger. We are not that close to the theater of military operations. However, we should not calm the population too much,“ he said.
The former head of state also recalled an incident from the time of the war in Yugoslavia.
„During the "Southern War" in Sofia, in Gorna Banya, an American missile fell. One also fell in my area, in Pernishko. I, by the way, have a fragment of this rocket“, Parvanov said and added that he is keeping it as part of his future museum collection.
Assessment of the institutions
According to him, the presidential institution currently creates a feeling of stability.
„As for President Yotova – she is currently one, if not the only pillar of security and stability, and radiates confidence that I believe people will appreciate“, commented Parvanov.
He expressed reservations about the idea of convening the National Security Advisory Council.
„If we are sure that he will radiate calmness and confidence – yes. But if it will simply be a scene for a clash of different political concepts, which is more likely, I am restrained.“
"Bulgaria must have an anti-war position"
Parvanov stressed that he has always been against military solutions to international conflicts. He recalled his position against the war in Iraq in 2003.
„When the war in Iraq began on March 20, 2003, I was in parliament and gave a speech, the meaning of which was: I do not accept this war. And I defended this position all the time.“
According to him, international institutions should play a more active role.
„In today's century, not everything can be solved with the power of missiles and other modern weapons“, he emphasized.
Dispute over American planes
The former president also commented on the topic of American planes at a Bulgarian airport.
„There is no explanation. There are rather confused messages. The Foreign Minister said at an earlier stage that it was about participation in the exercises, but now we see something different“, he pointed out.
According to him, it would be best for the equipment to be moved outside the country.
„It is best for them to be moved outside the country, if you ask me. Because regardless of whether they are at the “Vasil Levski“ airport or in Graf Ignatievo, we continue to be an irritant.“
On Rumen Radev and politics
Parvanov also commented on President Rumen Radev's participation in the political process.
“I thought that from the position of head of state he had much more resources to fight the oligarchy and the mafia. Now with episodic posts this cannot happen.“
He added that Radev is currently avoiding active political positions. “Obviously, in order to avoid mistakes, he is silent and has humbled himself. At least at this stage of the campaign.“
Parvanov believes that the culture of coalition government has been lost in Bulgaria.
„Nothing is left of this coalition culture that I remember - for example, when the triple coalition was formed. There were long conversations in which differences were overcome and positions were brought closer together.“
According to him, even a party with a parliamentary majority should seek broader support.
„In the difficult times we live in, we need not 120, but 160 and more votes.“
BSP and the future of the left
Parvanov admitted that it would hurt him if the BSP remained outside parliament.
„It hurts me just to think that this could happen. But after the BSP congress, there is a new leadership, dominated by young people, and I am more optimistic.“
He is more careful in his assessment of the new leader. “He is emerging as a strong leader, but I need to see evidence daily.“
Parvanov expressed doubts about the upcoming vote
“I am not convinced that the elections will be fair, seeing what is being done in the Ministry of Interior system and in general with regard to the caretaker government.“
However, he stressed that political forces must rise to the challenge.
“We are working in this environment and we will have to fight it.“