site.btaPatriotic Front Leaders Tell PM Borissov why they Object to Appointment of Orhan Ismailov as Deputy Defence Minister

106 POLITICS - PATRIOTIC FRONT - BOYKO BORISSOV - MEETING

Patriotic Front Leaders Tell PM Borissov
why they Object to Appointment of
Orhan Ismailov as Deputy Defence Minister


Sofia, November 19 (BTA) - The leaders of the Patriotic Front
(PF) coalition, Krassimir Karakachanov and Valeri Simeonov, met
with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov to familiarize him with their
views regarding the appointment of Orhan Ismailov as deputy
minister of defence, the two told journalists on their way out
of the Council of Ministers Wednesday evening.

Karakachanov and Simeonov specified that they had not set
conditions and will not "rock the Government on the eve of the
winter". They said they expect Borissov to decide "what he will
do with that deputy minister," after which they will express the
position of their political entity.

Other matters as well were on the agenda of the nearly hour and
a half long meeting.

The Movement of Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Parliamentary Group
Wednesday issued a declaration condemning the "peremptory
appeals" of the PF for the dismissal of Orhan Ismailov of the
Reformist Bloc as deputy minister of defence.

On Tuesday the PF said it may withdraw its support for the
Cabinet after Orhan Ismailov of the Reformist Bloc was appointed
deputy defence minister, arguing that the appointment of "a
representative of a pro-Turkish party" to the post is
"unacceptable". Ismailov is a member of the Freedom and Dignity
People's Party, part of the Reformist Bloc consisting mainly of
MRF breakaways. Without the PF's support the Boyko Borissov
Government will lose its majority in Parliament.

Simeonov said on Wednesday that the PF will decide on whether it
will continue to support the Government "within 24 hours". He
described Ismailov as "a disgrace for the Ministry of Defence".

Freedom and Dignity Party leader Korman Ismailov told
journalists that he was not surprised by the MRF's declaration
in defence of the deputy defence minister's appointment. "There
are no arguments against Orhan Ismailov, only ones to his
credit," the MP said, adding that he had expected all
parliamentary groups to rush in support of such political figure
in the country's governance.

Ismailov said on Bulgarian National Radio that he would resign
if the fate of the Government depends on this. LI/LG