Europe Liberals Criticize Bulgaria for Including Nationalists in Gov't

Politics » BULGARIA IN EU | November 12, 2014, Wednesday // 08:22
Bulgaria: Europe Liberals Criticize Bulgaria for Including Nationalists in Gov't Patriotic Front's two leaders, Valeri Simeonov and Krasimir Karakachanov. Photo by BGNES

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe (ALDE) has lashed at the new Bulgarian government over the "inclusion" of a nationalist coalition called Patriotic Front (PF).

ALDE's remarks follow the official formation of a cabinet in Bulgaria last week with PF's support declared with its signature of a coalition agreement without any participation.

Liberals' group in the European Parliament has published the position of MEP Hans van Baalen, President of Honor of Liberal International, who believes Prime Minister Boyko Borisov should "change his mind" to include more pro-European parties in the cabinet.

"The Patriotic Front, as well as ATAKA, are forces on the extreme right wing and have constantly spoken out against minorities and European co-operation. Borisov missed the chance to create a broad based Government in which the Movement of Rights and Freedom [DPS], one of the winners of the general elections, could participate. Instead he has chosen for an unbalanced Government with extreme populist input," the message reads.

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, an ALDE MEP elected on the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS)'s ticket in May, has called the PF a "xenophobic political force".

He has even warned of Borisov's attempts to influence the media by "breaching the Law on the Electronic Media Council," but has not elaborated.

Though supporting the cabinet, the Patriotic Front is not part of it, as it refused to send ministers, saying it could propose experts instead.

The DPS earlier sent out a letter to all mainstream groups within the EU Parliament to raise concerns about the PF's role in the government.

 

 

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Tags: ALDE, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, DPS, Patriotic Front, Boyko Borisov, Hans Van Baalen

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