Bulgarian President: Citizens Are Right, Institutions Are Ill

Politics » DOMESTIC | November 10, 2013, Sunday // 18:26
Bulgaria: Bulgarian President: Citizens Are Right, Institutions Are Ill Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev has backed rallying citizens who have called for a "moral revolution," according to an interview by French newspaper Nouvel Observateur.

The piece comes against a backdrop of a student occupation at Sofia University, which culminated in a major anti-goverment rally in Bulgarian capital Sofia Sunday.

Entitled, "Bulgaria is not Moscow's Trojan horse in Europe," the interview also stresses on what Plevneliev believes are the strong pro-EU sentiments of the majority of Bulgarians.

According to the Bulgarian President however, although Bulgarian institutions in principle are completely in line with EU standards, they frequently have issues with abiding by good European political practice.

"Now civil society in Bulgaria is waking up and becomes more active and involved. People have shown their power and courage in defending their convictions, and have found a direction that brings them together," stated Plevneliev.

The Bulgarian President stressed that througout the summer he was supportive of anti-cabinet protests, which have requested the resignation of PM Plamen Oresharski.

Asked about his opinion about a so-called post-communist "red mafia" that some protesters have raised voices against, Plevneliev replied:

"The mafia does not have a definite color. What is certain is that what we call "mafia" is a pathology of our democracy that we must eradicate."

He added that he was optimistic that given the strong public pressure, this healing process will be successful.

Plevneliev stressed that to restore trust, Bulgarian institutions, in particular the judiciary and executive need to invest more efforts in good practices, including transparency.

The Bulgarian President singled out the energy sector as one area of vital importance for all citizens that has been, according to him, unduly left in the dark.

According to Plevneliev, Bulgaria's 2014 first wave of protest - February rallies against high electricity bills and corruption - have seen their continuation in the summer and fall rallies and are part of a bigger processes of more active civic life in Bulgaria.

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Tags: civil society, energy, EU, mafia, Plamen Oresharski, protests, Rosen Plevneliev, Moscow

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