What is the role of the protests "for" “ “DPS - New Beginning“ and "against" the government, respectively what are the dynamics in the behavior of the parties. Is there still an old DPS, or is everything a "new beginning", as well as what can be expected in early elections… Guner Tahir, former deputy chairman of DPS and chairman of the "National Movement for Rights and Freedoms" (NDPS), speaks to FACT.
- Mr. Tahir, what is a counter-protest?
- Well, that's what we should ask for an explanation someone from “DPS - New Beginning“. Strange things happened last night.
- What?
- The three parties that are part of the ruling coalition did not come out to protest, to hold counter-protests, but the fourth party is doing so – – DPS - New Beginning“, which is supposedly not in official power, but it turns out that it is ruling. And more specifically, its leader Delyan Peevski turns out to be the real Prime Minister of Bulgaria, because he is protecting the government, whose resignation is being demanded by the protesting people in Bulgaria. And this is not the first time. Remember that 12 years ago there were counter-protests again and again in support of Delyan Peevski – then he was going to become the head of DANS. That is, if we have to summarize, the protests in villages and palanquins, in small towns, were precisely in support of Delyan Peevski, who is clearly seen threatened by the large protests of Bulgarian citizens.
- And why didn't we see him at some of these protests?
- Apparently, because Peevski doesn't feel safe either in Sofia or in the countryside. The day before yesterday he was in Kardzhali, but even then he was guarded, as we saw, by a large guard, by the police, by the NSO and surrounded by 50-60 people of his party. And he clearly has nothing to say to the people, because how can you explain, for example, to these people who were somehow taken there, what you are actually doing there? Yes - we know that more than 90% of the people who were taken to Kardzhali are directly dependent on the local government, the municipal mayor, the village mayor and so on. And these people participate there not because they support Delyan Peevski or support the government, but because they need to eat and save their bread, figuratively speaking. What should Peevski say to them of these people? And accordingly, we know very well that Peevski, pretending to protect the government, is actually protecting his personal interest. And you saw for yourself that this enthusiasm that they wanted to demonstrate in the squares was not there. First, in my opinion, very few people gathered in many places. The largest rally, which was in Kardzhali, according to independent sources, gathered about 2,000 people. And in some places like Botevgrad and Sevlievo, this was not allowed to happen.
- But still, a mobilization is showing that it can activate people...
- Yes, that's right.
- What we saw, which MRF is it - the old MRF or the new MRF with the new beginning?
- (laughs) We now only have “MPS - New Beginning“. In principle, the faction that remained around Dogan is now trying to register under the name APS. In reality, they do not yet exist as a political party. And if we talk about who inherited the previous, unified MPS - this is “MPS - New Beginning“.
- Okay, and what does this mobilization show?
- Conclusions can be drawn. And here it is important to say the following that MPS is showing itself in the countryside. There is no way that this will prevent the anger of the people who want the government to be in the big cities. But what is Peevski doing? Since he is officially not in power, he does not bear the negatives of it, he is now simply mobilizing his people locally. That is, Peevski realizes that there will be upcoming parliamentary elections and wants to see how the people in the regions are, whether they have the necessary mobilization and whether he can count on them in upcoming special elections? So I see this more as a rehearsal for tightening the ranks of the “new” beginning“.
- The counter-protests are under the motto “No to hate“. Where is the hate?
- There is no hate. Hatred, if there is, is directed at the leader of this formation “DPS – New Beginning“ – Delyan Peevski, and not against the ethnicities and minorities in Bulgaria, as he tried to present it. We remember in 2013 there was another counter-protest by Sergey Stanishev, Lyutvi Mestan and Plamen Oresharski on Orlov Most. Then who was this hatred directed at? It was again directed at Delyan Peevski. That is, we as a society are spinning in a vicious circle. Old scenarios are repeated and in the end, after so many years, we cannot sweep away a person who is proven corrupt, who is the biggest oligarch.
- Is the ethnic card being played again? Isn't this already a well-worn trick? The ethnic card was Ahmed Dogan's trademark when he was trying or had to quell some tension. Is this even adequate to the situation we live in today?
- The ethnic card doesn't work. This is clear to all Bulgarian citizens, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, etc.
- Do you expect elections to be held?
- I am absolutely sure of that. In Sofia, I expect there to be twice as many people at the protest as last time, when it is claimed that there were over 100 thousand attendees. I think this will be the culmination. And if the authorities do not take into account the opinion of the citizens, in my opinion, things could escalate. Look, Borisov has an instinct for self-preservation and I expect a reaction from him first.
- Okay, we're going to elections in April or May. What will the political situation be then? Will there be anything new, or will the same familiar parties still be offered to the electorate?
- Elections are not the same. New players can always appear on the political scene, or different configurations can be formed than those in parliament. Dogan's APS have not yet been registered, but they may be by then. We also have on the horizon the expected possible party that will be supported by President Radev. He can play through other parties, appear in the form of a coalition, use a foreign registration, one or two parties as mandate holders. So the configuration can be very different. Now, 3-4 months earlier, even those of us who have been in politics for a long time, can hardly predict very accurately, but always in elections something interesting and unexpected can happen.