In a long and in-depth conversation for P26.bg, former Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov makes a detailed analysis of the Bulgarian political scene - from the transformation of GERB and the leadership model of Boyko Borisov, through the problems in the security sector and vote buying, to the geopolitical challenges facing Bulgaria and Europe.
The conversation covers almost all key topics of Bulgarian politics over the last decade and becomes a kind of political cross-section of the system.
An interesting paradox is observed in Bulgarian politics. People who were a key part of the GERB government are no longer part of this party today or are even in opposition to it. An example is former Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova. How did this transformation come about? And to what extent can the reasons be sought in the way in which the party leader Boyko Borisov manages the party?
„We need to make a clear distinction. Rumyana Bachvarova has nothing to do with the structuring and building of GERB in the early years. She was a representative of a sociological agency that worked with Borisov in one way or another. That is how the relationship between them emerged and she gradually found a place around him in the government.
But she did not participate in the creation of the political structures and organizational model that led to the party's first successes.“
Tsvetanov emphasizes that in his opinion, the appointment of Bachvarova as Minister of the Interior was a political decision that did not correspond to the specifics of the system.
„The Ministry of the Interior is an extremely conservative system. In order to manage it effectively, you need to know the structure, the people and the mechanisms of work. This is not a system where you can simply put someone from the outside in and expect it to function normally.“
You often give as an example the period when you were Minister of Internal Affairs. What was different about the then model of work of the Ministry of Internal Affairs?
„The difference was in the way the system was built - through professional personnel selection and a clear strategy. Within a few months, we managed to neutralize a group that had been terrorizing Bulgarian society through kidnappings for two years.“
He recalls the cases against several well-known criminal structures.
„Let us recall the operations against the „Insolent“, against the „Killers“, as well as a number of other actions against organized criminal groups. These operations were not PR actions. They were the result of serious preparation and the correct selection of professionals in the system.“
According to Tsvetanov, it was this model that allowed Bulgaria to restore the trust of international partners.
During your mandate, you had contacts with European security services. What did these contacts show about the state of the Bulgarian system?
„When I visited Europol headquarters in The Hague, the then director Rob Wainwright told me something very clearly - Bulgaria has two serious problems.
First - not enough operational information is shared in Europol's systems.
Second - there is a breach in the DGOB system.“
According to him, the European partners even named specific employees who they suspected were leaking information.
„This was an extremely serious problem. That is why we have undertaken personnel changes and have begun to actively exchange operational information with the allies. From that moment on, trust in Bulgaria has gradually been restored.“
How do you see the state of GERB today?
„GERB is no longer the political mastodon it was years ago.
While I was in the party, a result of less than one million and one hundred thousand votes was considered a failure.
Today, a result of about six hundred and fifty thousand votes is considered a success.“
According to him, the reason is not only in the party itself.
„This is not because GERB is so strong, but because the other political forces are too weak. The party's electoral weight has already decreased by almost half.“
In the last elections, there was again talk of vote buying. To what extent can this problem be solved?
„The key word is prevention. The Ministry of Internal Affairs must know who are the people who participate in such schemes. There must be analysis, information and coordination between institutions.“
He emphasizes that personnel changes in the police are not enough.
„You cannot simply change directors and expect the system to start working. First, you need to analyze what has been done so far, what signals have been received and what actions have been taken.“
How do you assess the recent constitutional changes and the way the executive offices function?
„There is a serious problem here. It used to be clear – the president bears political responsibility for the cabinet.
Now there is no clearly identifiable political force that bears such responsibility.“
According to him, this creates institutional ambiguity.
„When it is not clear who bears political responsibility, the system begins to function without real control.“
How do you assess Rumen Radev's political potential?
„Rumen Radev manages to attract sympathy from different political parties and especially from people who have not voted so far.“
However, he notes that this does not automatically mean a stable management perspective.
„There is still no clear management program and specific policies. This remains to be seen.“
How do you assess the security risks for Bulgaria in the context of international conflicts?
„No country is completely protected. What happened during the Burgas bus bombing at Burgas Airport showed this very clearly.“
He recalls that the investigation then established a connection with the military wing of Hezbollah.
„This was possible thanks to the cooperation between the Bulgarian services and our partners from Europe, the United States and Israel.“
Some analysts are talking about a crisis in the European Union. Is it possible for it to fall apart?
„I am convinced that the European Union must be preserved. Europe is the best place to live.“
In his words, politicians have a responsibility to preserve this heritage.
„When Europe is united and united, it can be a much stronger political and economic factor in the world.“
The conversation with Tsvetan Tsvetanov outlines a complex picture of Bulgarian politics - a system in which the erosion of institutions, the transformation of traditional parties and growing international risks are intertwined.
But according to him, the solution remains clear:
- strong institutions,
- professional management,
- and a clear Euro-Atlantic orientation.
Source: p26.bg