site.btaPresident Plevneliev Calls for Meaningful, In-depth Reforms

President Plevneliev Calls for Meaningful, In-depth Reforms

Sofia, January 6 (BTA) - President Rosen Plevneliev Wednesday outlined as a priority during the new political season the need of meaningful and in-depth reforms that would help Bulgaria's public life and economy change and its democracy improve. He was speaking to reporters after the traditional blessing of the Bulgarian Army flags on the occasion of Epiphany, which was carried out by Patriarch Neophyte and clergymen in front of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in Sofia.

The President also outlined as priorities the reforms in the justice system and healthcare, the continuation of the reform in Bulgarian education, the reforms in the water sector and in the public administration, where the introduction of e-services for the citizens should not be postponed.

Plevneliev also said that the reform of the justice system should be the focus of attention of the political leaders and Parliament, and be sped up. He described the constitutional amendments, which were adopted in December, as a good but insufficient first step.

"We will surely see confrontation in the political life but let us give way to ideas, to arguments, and not to the counter-culture as we saw it two years ago," Plevneliev noted.

Asked to comment on the situation in the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, whose leader Lyutvi Mestan was unexpectedly expelled from the party on December 24, Plevneliev said that as a head of State he cannot comment on internal party problems. "In general, Bulgarian politics is very balanced and last year we received strong international acknowledgement of our foreign policy of principle, which is not influenced by one political force or another, or by one leader of a political party or another. Bulgaria conducts a pro-European and pro-democratic, Euro-Atlantic policy with clear principles and values," he said, adding that as a head of State he upholds these principles and is not the only one who does.

The President outlined "priorities meaningful for the State", which he has been upholding since the start of his mandate and on which specific results are being achieved, such as the liberalization of the energy market, the cooperation within NATO and the referendums in Bulgaria.

The blessing of the Bulgarian Army flags was attended by National Assembly Chair Tsetska Tsacheva, Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev, Chief of Defence Vice Admiral Roumen Nikolov, Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova, MPs, high-ranking service members, representatives of the military-patriotic unions, and military attaches.