I have no desire to become an acting prime minister, Maya Manolova, who is one of the six candidates for ombudsman, told the Bulgarian National Radio.
"Unfortunately, the deputies will elect the most convenient, most obedient possible acting prime minister, if the house book is not canceled in the meantime by the Constitutional Court, and not the person who will protect the rights of citizens with heart, expertise and character," she expressed her opinion and called on the deputies:
"In times of turbulence, of political and social crises, to think about not who would be the most suitable, convenient and obedient acting prime minister for them, but the one who would truly protect the rights of citizens. I still hope that they will make a decision that will be good for the citizens, not for the political situation, not the one that the parties think will be closest and most convenient for them".
For her, it is absurd that for a year now the institution has not had a titular ombudsman and a deputy ombudsman. "People are left to fend for themselves. The number of complaints is huge. When there is no strong voice to protect civil interests, this is a particularly big problem", she emphasized.
Manolova declared that she does not want to become an acting prime minister, because her calling is to work for the people. According to her, the president will have a choice.
In her words, this institution should do the most important thing for the people, because the problems are piling up:
"People are getting poorer and they have the feeling that politicians are experimenting with them. When there is no one to reach out, to shed light on the outrages, to propose solutions, to work with the institutions - people fall into hopelessness".
The role of the ombudsman is to be a bridge between the institutions and the citizens, she pointed out, but specified that in order to do so, he should not be "an ordinary registry office or a distribution station for complaints".
According to her, the ombudsman has enormous opportunities not only to show the problems, but also to propose solutions.
"The environment is currently poisonous for the rights of citizens, for human rights institutions and organizations. People are left to fend for themselves".
In the program "Above All" Maya Manolova called on the remaining candidates for ombudsman to a public debate so that people can ask their questions and hear their answers. She called on the media to organize such a debate.
"Because the procedure in parliament is designed so that the deputies quietly choose the future ombudsman they find convenient. Even the people may not understand who the candidates were and who the deputies chose".
According to her, the ombudsman can bring up a problem that is inconvenient for the authorities, who want to sweep it away, or he can keep quiet about it. Therefore, according to her, the chosen one must have courage and boldness.
Manolova noted that the remaining candidates for the position have sent invitations to the parliamentary groups for meetings. She declared that she would also consider this possibility.
The institution is perceived by citizens as a defender, the candidate for ombudsman also said and reminded: "During my mandate, what I have done is to turn the ombudsman from the last door, where people knock in despair, into an active defender of their rights, into a strong, independent voice that not only sheds light on problems, but also proposes solutions and the institutions comply with it".
The rules are clear - a PG ceases to exist when it falls below 10 MPs, commented Manolova regarding the case with the MECH party. According to her, Kiselova did not dissolve the group - she does not have such authority. She only makes an announcement, she clarified.
"They can change the rules if they insist that the problem lies in it, or make a decision. "The National Assembly adopts both the regulations and the laws - both the knife and the bread are in its hands. The behavior with threats on the part of the chairman of MECH is not acceptable, but this should also be sanctioned in an appropriate manner, and not through punitive action - the dissolution of a parliamentary group," she expressed her opinion.