The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) is key to Bulgaria's stability, Sir Graham Watson, President of the Alliance and Liberal Democrats for Europe (ALDE), opined.

In an interview with private national bTV station on Sunday, he pointed to the "broad support" for Bulgaria's third-largest political force.

Watson praised the DPS for overcoming its beginnings as an "ethnic" party, adding it already had many members who are neither ethnic Turkish nor Muslim.

Bulgaria's constitution bans the creation of political parties on an ethnic basis. Although it does not describe itself as one, the DPS has traditionally used a "minority" angle in politics, standing up for the rights of ethnic Turkish and Muslim citizens of Bulgaria and, more recently, of an increasing number of Roma people.

Watson was in Sofia for for the annual meeting of the Liberal Southeast Europe Network (LIBSEEN) and the 25th anniversary since the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom set foot in the country.

He also commented on the migrant crisis shaking Europe and made clear Europe was able to accept some 200 000 more people, just "0.4% of the population", but added that had to happen in the right way.

In his words, an intensive dialogue is needed with local authorities in depopulated areas of EU member states which could receive migrants to cope with their demographic issues.