BSP Chairman Krum Zarkov commented on "Face to Face" on bTV both the topic of the judicial system and the resignation of the acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov, as well as the state and results of the BSP after the elections.
In his words, no real changes are occurring, and "Sarafov's deputy is already acting, Sarafov becomes her deputy". Zarkov commented that this is a signal of a lack of influence of the law on the prosecutor's office and the political situation. He pointed out that the new government faces the challenge of changing the system through a new Supreme Judicial Council and clarifying the scandals in the judicial system.
„To put the issues where they are, and not to be satisfied with formal regroupings“, the BSP leader also commented. He added: „This should be done in the first days of the next National Assembly“.
Regarding the work of the prosecutor's office, Zarkov says: „The issue is that the law does not guide them. This is obvious. They ignored it for a long time“. According to him, society has tolerated this situation for a long time.
The socialist defined the problem as a lack of legal awareness: „The lack of legal awareness at the highest levels of one of the key authorities“. He also spoke about addictions: “It is encapsulated in those records, in those SRCs that everyone knows exist“.
When asked about scandals in the judicial system, he said: “There are two main scandals. One is the 8 dwarves. The other is Martin Bozanov-Notary“. Regarding the SRCs, he added: “They know what they are talking about. Everyone knows what they are talking about“.
Then the conversation turned to the BSP election results. Zarkov said: “I am using your studio to ask for forgiveness from those 100,000 who voted for us, from those Bulgarian citizens who identify with the leftist idea“. And he continued: “Forgiveness for not being able to make the BSP cross the 4 percent barrier“.
According to him, the result is natural: “It is part of a common political process that punishes all parties that participated in the previous government“. He emphasizes: “Everyone lost a lot. For the last eight weeks, we tried to prevent the cruel implementation of political logic and we failed, for which I must take responsibility“.
Zarkov stated that the BSP must undergo a profound transformation: “Our historical mission is to ensure political representation of leftist ideas“. He added that this requires a “powerful transformation process“ that would lead to “a different political formation that would federate or confederate the different currents“.
In his words, the party should not stagnate: “The BSP cannot and will not stand in agony and survival. This makes no sense“. Zarkov insists that a “shock effect“ and an opening to different currents are needed.
He also added: “The entire Bulgarian society loses when one of the main parts of the democratic model is missing from the institutions - the left”. And he continued: “It is about organizing the ongoing socialist movement in Bulgaria“.
Regarding the future of the BSP, Zarkov said: “We must be able to continue and this means a new path“. According to him, we need “a radically and profoundly different way of functioning“.
Regarding upcoming political actions, the politician said: “I am grateful for the support, I am not sure that I deserve it. We must see each other, we must see each other. Come to Sofia on May 1st to show that the left exists and together we can start building the new political movement in Bulgaria“.
When asked about internal party criticism and demands for resignation, he replied: “I find this normal. The request is pointless“. And he added: “If the National Council believes that there is a better option, my resignation will be submitted immediately“.
At the end of the conversation, Zarkov commented on a possible candidacy of Iliana Yotova for president: “Iliyana Yotova is the most authoritative socialist. The association of her name as a presidential candidate is completely natural“. He added that the decision must be made jointly.
Regarding the political success of Rumen Radev and “Progressive Bulgaria“ he said: “The Bulgarian people have spoken, this time they decided to speak loud and clear“. About the party leader, he added: “I believe that Rumen Radev has enough experience not to indulge in arrogance and self-sufficiency“. When asked whether Radev is sincere in his intention to dismantle the oligarchic model, Zarkov answered unequivocally: “Yes“.