The nominee for the new caretaker prime minister, Goritza Grancharova - Kozhareva continues the talks on the formation of the new government, the parliament continues its work, Kalin Stoyanov is again in the focus of events, whether he will remain the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. What does politics look like from the inside… The political scientist Kaloyan Metodiev, an independent non-native representative who became a deputy of the "BSP for Bulgaria" spoke to FAKTI.
- Mr. Metodiev, are you used to parliamentary life from the inside? How do you see the work of the parliament?
- With mixed feelings. It's interesting to me, I learn new things, I try to consolidate the position with work as much as possible, this is my craft. In the beginning, I was worried about whether I could handle the job, whether I was prepared, what I could do and give to be useful, to deserve my salary. That's how I was brought up, that's my ethics. You know I became the first MP in history to be expelled and become an independent before being sworn in. I said to myself: “A warrior is a warrior himself.” It was not easy, I had to navigate on the move, be active, structure a team, relationships, goals…. While all this happened to me, three people helped me, and they are still helping me, for which I am grateful. For me - as a political scientist, it is invaluable to observe the main institution from the inside – way of functioning, strengths and weaknesses, relationships, characters. There are many experts on various topics, but there is a lack of politicians, orators, and this is the meaning of parliamentarism. The experts are to give specific solutions, to give an opinion in a certain sector, advice, they are not creators of the political – they have no business looking at the whole picture, modeling it. I also saw many ugly phenomena, which was unexpected for such an institution – violence, vulgarity, mockery of a pregnant woman in the hall, pathological jokes, rudeness, hooliganism, people with frankly mental problems. I miss good manners, politeness, cultured behavior. Parliament sets the tone in the country.
I want everyone to hammer this into their heads.
I am also amazed at the infernal hypocrisy I have seen. Just this week, a leader took to the podium and demanded an open meeting, that is, to be broadcast on the media for the people to see, and a minute later his protege voted as one against it. Another reads passages from the Bible and blasts liberalism, and then his group votes unanimously for sex propaganda in schools. Who sent them to take their trouble. The majority of MPs are decent and respectable, conscientious, but the weeds choke the green grass. It is the task of the people to select them in elections. Where there are things useful for the state, I support with votes and speeches – for Schengen, for nurses, for banning sexual propaganda in schools, for one textbook per class, etc. I wanted a little more money for archeology in the budget, but GERB, PP-DB, DPS and BSP-revolutionaries rejected it, and voted hundreds of millions for some anti-submarine systems, strikers, radars. It's a big political choice right now - where are we going to invest as a society.
- Who, how and why was considering removing Raya Nazyaran from the post of chairman of the National Assembly? What “conversations” was there?
- Obviously, you are asking me about the meeting at the NDK during the third mandate. Like you, I found out from the media that ITN, PP-DB, “Vazrazhdane“ and BSP revolutionaries have been gathering. From their subsequent statements it became clear that there was such an intention. Only Kiril Petkov had the courage to admit it. As for me, without knowing about the plans, I told myself in front of the media in the parliament that I voted against Nazaryan's election and would support her removal as well. From there on, their suggestion of a name to change it with was ridiculous, bullshitting the state. Radev publicly slapped ITN, even though they are the only party for a presidential republic, and strongly defended Nazaryan for this meeting. That's the only thing that was new and interesting.
For me, the important and curious thing in the whole story is: who is the traitor.
7-8 people gathered, and a journalist with a camera was waiting for them in front. So, one of them issued an advance notice for the meeting. Group with a traitor. That's what they're looking for. That's how it's done. Otherwise, broken work.
- Somehow you dragged your feet in the National Assembly so that at one point independent MPs became more than certain parliamentary groups. What sentiments do you feel among the DPS MPs? Where things are going. Will we have two dispatches?
- Independents are the second largest group. A historical record was reached. Of course we are different, with different stories and motivations. Three independent bands and me. The DPS is in a state of civil war among itself. Heavy, serious, deep. The movement has been so demonized over the years that no one comes forward to defend or reconcile them. There, hatred has reached a cellular level. And in a very short time. I have already warned that in this situation the choices between them could resemble a carnage. It can give energy, motivation to the two warring groups, as long as borders are not crossed with violence, abuse of state institutions, ethnic maps, etc. I am for civilized relations in politics. The divorce should proceed without extremes.
- We are going to elections, and Dimitar Glavchev offered himself for another “one term“ as caretaker prime minister, but it won't be him. What do you expect from Gorica Grancharova-Kozhareva…
- Glavchev offered himself to be an interim prime minister, but was publicly humiliated.
Radev will not forgive him for not letting him go to the NATO meeting in Washington and sending Nenchev as ambassador.
I have always advocated for more women in Bulgarian politics. Grancharova makes a good impression, she has managerial experience, she has a vision, she has a chosen speech – at least from her rare public appearances. I can see that it is well received at the European level, which is important for us with a faltering Schengen, the Eurozone and missing money under the Recovery and Resilience Plan. That is, it seems to me that he has the conditions to consolidate the post of caretaker prime minister with what is the task of a caretaker government – conducting fair elections. Galab Donev and Dimitar Glavchev failed in this mission.
- The names from the “housebook“ somehow they shrunk to a few… But the important thing is that it will not be indicated by Radev. Was that the goal? What choice, in fact, did the head of state have?
- Who is to blame? Radev did it himself. He made parties from the presidency with the state resource in violation of all laws and rules. There is an OSCE report (26 observers from 19 countries) from October 2022 on how his office, led by Galab Donev, interfered in the elections against BSP and PP-DB. He fired thousands of people in a matter of weeks to put ladybugs, corrupt people, internal opposition in order to break organizations. He became a record holder for the sale of state properties at ridiculous prices by his regional governors with the emblematic example in Sofia. Drain the state-owned companies. Signed the murderous anti-Bulgarian contract with “Botash” until 2035, where every day we pay almost 1 million BGN without receiving anything. He personally negotiated it – it is in the committee report. It really pushed “Bulgargaz“ to bankruptcy. He ordered 8 more planes for billions without us needing them. Etc. Etc. He spits out the parties and then picks them up one by one to screw them up, not that most don't come to offer themselves depending on the situation (with one exception of preserved dignity).
Radev's managerial insanity had to be stopped,
but not as clumsily as the constitutional losers from the troika - GERB, PP-DB and DPS - did it. The list is short and ill-conceived. We still don't have a law for the official offices, so they can't do what they want. But these are the options to date – that's how it works.
- Where is the BSP going? Atanas Zafirov said that Kornelia Ninova cannot be a deputy because of the statutory restrictions that she herself imposed and which suggest that with 12 years of parliamentary experience you cannot be a deputy…
- The revolutionaries Vigenin, Gutsanov, Zafirov - who gained publicity as the three VGZ, is a funeral committee. They are so pathetic. They will impose penalties on her, they will influence her, they will not let her run for MP… This is not a kindergarten. So much malice, fear, hatred, pettiness. I also saw that they held some kind of National Council and in front - on behalf of the new leadership, Kiril Dobrev gave a statement to the media. It is now clear that this is their leader. I congratulate them for demonstrating transparency. They are uniting with Maya Manolova, Rumen Petkov, Georgi Parvanov, Tatiana Doncheva, Mikhail Mikov and 15 other parties that I have never heard of, and I am also involved in politics. I suggest that they name the coalition Belchin, Elite Bank, Rugby or something similar to match its real content.
They will not enter the parliament.
I want to ask if Boyko Borisov is the leader of GERB – does the party hold? And a second question, do all his municipalities conclude fuel contracts with two specific companies? Has anyone financed like this over the years? Kornelia Ninova, Svilenski, Chenchev and the others who supported me when I was attacked and excluded have my support. Don't give up, don't despair! They are the prepared, the moral, the dignified. That's why they beat them. Politics is a struggle. They have a road ahead of them. They are compromised, idealess, vindictive, aggressive, clingy, selfish, opportunistic, socially unacceptable. They are done.
- At the same time, BSP returned Petar Vitanov. Is this good, is there any opening…
- May God forgive!