site.btaFour Ataka MPs Leave Power-sharing United Patriots Coalition's Parliamentary Group

September 4 (BTA) - Four Ataka MPs are leaving the
power-sharing United Patriots coalition's Parliamentary Group.
The decision was announced in front of journalists here on
Wednesday by Ataka MP and Parliament Deputy Chair Yavor Notev,
who was accompanied by his fellow MPs Nikolay Aleksandrov,
Stanislav Stanilov and Margarita Nikolova.

Notev said that what's left of the group after Ataka leader
Volen Siderov and MPs Dessislav Choukolov and Pavel Shopov were
removed in July "is not what the Bulgarian citizens have voted
for".

"We are leaving after a series of actions and decisions, which
became possible after Valeri Simeonov's return to the Bulgarian
Parliament," Yavor Notev said. He commented that Simeonov was
"banished from the Executive" following protests by people with
disabilities last year. "He found his place in the Bulgarian
Parliament as if this holy building is a sanctuary for failed
politicians," Notev said.

Notev explained that they will remain in Parliament and work for
 implementing their party's programme. Asked whether they will
support the Government, Notev said that this will depend on
Cabinet's ideas and decisions.

Asked to comment the consequences of the four Ataka MPs'
decision to leave, NFSB leader Valeri Simeonov told journalists
that the United Patriots remain as a group, as a name and a
coalition partner with their peculiarities, requirements and
demands pertaining to the State's governance.

"Of course, it is not good for the third largest parliamentary
group to become the fourth largest one, behind the Movement for
Rights and Freedoms, but unfortunately this was inevitable and I
 cannot comment or discuss our colleagues' decision," Simeonov
said. ZH/MY