Bulgaria’s nationalist leader Volen Siderov is totally unfit to head the parliamentary body for corruption combat and should be dismissed, Bulgaria's first democratically elected president argues.

“As Bulgaria’s first democratically elected president and as someone who holds the country dear to his heart and respects its institutions, I turn to you and to all MPs, demanding to dismiss Ataka leader Volen Siderov from the post of chairman of the parliamentary anti-corruption commission,” Zhelev said in a letter to Bulgaria's parliament. 

“The election of a person with such a behavior to that post is a mockery of Bulgarian democracy and its institutions!”, the letter said, referring to the nationalist scandalous reputation and recent displays of arrogance.

Last week MPs shockingly decided that Volen Siderov will head the parliamentary body for corruption combat, conflict of interests and ethics.

Socialist leader Sergey Stanishev had hinted before at this development, saying that this post is the only thing Siderov wanted for his party.

"I see no reason why not to give that post to him,” Stanishev said, turning a blind eye to the nationalist controversial reputation.

Bulgaria's leaders have been for years the subject of humiliating criticism by the European Commission, worried about endemic corruption and links between organised crime and some bits of the governments.

Siderov’s election made analysts draw comparisons with the leader of another party, which entered the previous parliament campaigning against corruption, Order, Law and Justice.

Its leader, Yane Yanev, had a habit of producing classified information to back up his claims. That prompted accusations, which he denied, that he is a front for the secret services.

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