Bulgaria’s ruling coalition bicker over special services reforms

Tensions are rising between the parties that support Bulgaria’s pro-European ruling coalition, as parties are divided on the reform of the special services, while the pro-Russian President, Rumen Radev, also opposes reform.

The pro-European coalition We Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria is demanding reform to stop the president from signing the appointment of special services chiefs, a task he currently has. The other party supporting the government is GERB – whose leader is long-serving former prime minister Boyko Borissov.

“Radev reacts aggressively every time it comes to appointing chiefs of secret services. That is why it is important for Borissov to make a choice – does he retain the influence of the president or give the Bulgarian parliament a chance to decide the fate of security in Bulgaria and bear its responsibility for this. If we want security in Bulgaria, this is the only way – legal changes in the security services. So that the state can guarantee the security of people and the economy,” We Continue the Change stated.

After Borissov attacked his partners for going too far when it came to replacing those in power, Then We Continue the Change leader Kiril Petkov replied that GERB should clearly say whether it supported the reform, and then came up with an official position that sounds like an ultimatum.

Last week, Radev practically declared war on the government over planned staff shake-ups at the Interior Ministry.

Following the government’s announcement that the ministry’s chief secretary needed to be replaced because he was not trusted and was failing in his duties, the president replied that these suggestions were “entirely political and a continuation of the wholesale purge in the ministry of internal affairs”.

“The president did not agree to the change of the highest professional position in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. I’m sure he will do the same for the State Agency for National Security,” Petkov said on Sunday.

“And the question to GERB is: why are we still not introducing this law (that takes away the presidential power in appointing secret service chiefs) after three months. We will introduce these laws on the reforms in the services, and GERB must define themselves – are they with the president or are they for the reforms in the services?’ Petkov added.

(Krassen Nikolov | EURACTIV.bg)