EU parliamentary groups react to resignation of Borissov government in Bulgaria
The centre-right European People’s Party issued a pledge for full support for Boiko Borissov on February 20 2013, after he tabled the Bulgarian government’s resignation, with EPP deputy leader in the European Parliament Manfred Weber saying that Borissov would have strong support from the EPP in the forthcoming election.
Borissov’s decision for his government to resign was a strong signal that a leader in the EPP political family did not accept any form of violence against civilians, Weber said.
Weber said that since taking office in 2009, Borissov’s government had carried out a number of important reforms, had preserved financial stability during the worst financial and economic crisis, and Bulgaria had achieved a much higher level of absorption of EU funds.
Under Borissov’s government, Bulgaria’s interests had been well defended in negotiations on the next EU budget and the country would receive more money as a result, Weber said.
The Party of European Socialists (PES), which is led by Bulgarian Socialist Party leader Sergei Stanishev, welcomed the resignation of Borissov’s government.
The PES has thrown its full support behind the BSP and leader Stanishev. PES Secretary General Achim Post said of Stanishev; “that for the upcoming elections, Sergei Stanishev can count on the support of the Progressive European family. The member parties of the PES are ready to help ensure that Bulgaria finds a more successful way out of the crisis and that it does so in a way that reignites the spirit of democracy “.
“We cannot let that Borissov’s legacy, a proposed new electoral law that radically decreases the political independence of election organisers, undermines the most basic standards of democracy and curtails Bulgaria’s potential for growth and progress. This is the opportunity to give the voice back to the citizens, and this fundamental democratic exercise will only be possible if we ensure that the elections are conducted in a fair, open and transparent way,” Post said.
Bulgarian National Radio quoted Hannes Swoboda, leader of the socialists in the European Parliament, as saying that Borissov’s resignation was a logical consequence of the government’s anti-social policies.
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe – which has two member parties in Bulgaria, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms and the National Movement for Stability and Progress – welcomed the resignation of Borissov and his government.
ALDE leader Graham Watson said that there had been concerns recently about freedom and the rule of law in Bulgaria. Watson said in a statement that he compared Borissov to Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi and Romania’s Traian Basescu, calling them representatives of the B Group, people, who accept compromises with the supremacy of the law and should not be in power.
(Photo, of the European Parliament: Rama)
