site.btaGERB MP Delyan Dobrev Leaves Politics

Sofia, October 1 (BTA) - GERB MP and regional coordinator for Haskovo Delyan Dobrev is to leave politics following accusations of influence peddling and business interests in the governance of Haskovo Municipality. In a bTV interview on Sunday Dobrev said he would sue socialist MP Elena Yoncheva who raised the issue because he had been discredited in the eyes of the public.

The former energy minister came at the centre of controversy in Haskovo after it transpired that he had appointed his relatives, friends and former class mates at key positions in the municipal administration.

Earlier in the week GERB stripped of political confidence Haskovo mayor Dobri Belivanov over his inaction in connection with local problems. On Saturday Belivanov said that he is distancing himself not from GERB but from Dobrev.

Dobrev said that on Sunday morning he had met with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov to inform him of his decision to leave Parliament and his top posts in GERB because he didn't want the scandal to weigh on the government. He said that after a week of denying the allegations he had seen that it was pointless and that in the eyes of the public his name had already been tarnished and the situation had become intolerable.

Of the accusations by Mayor Belivanov who wrote to Borissov on Saturday, Dobrev said that apparently power has changed this otherwise good person.

Dobrev said that politics was not for professionals or decent people because there would come a time when "you will get to Miss Yoncheva". He believed that the attack on him was well-organized which is why it succeeded.

The Sofia chapter of GERB issued a statement in support of Dobrev.

Elena Yoncheva told journalists that Dobrev had assumed political responsibility.

Approached to comment on Belivanov's refusal to resign, Dobrev said he was responsible that for two years people who were unfit for the job had been employed in Haskovo municipality.