site.btaPresident Denies Meddling in Selection of New Prosecutor General

ESD 16:39:01 19-05-2019
LN1644ES.102
102 POLITICS - PRESIDENT - JUDICIARY - COMMENTARY

President Radev Dismisses Allegations
on Interference with Selection of
New Prosecutor General


Sofia, May 19 (BTA) - On Sunday, President Rumen Radev dismissed allegations that he is interfering with the selection of the next Prosecutor General. He told journalists in Blagoevgrad (Southwestern Bulgaria) that "everyone knows very well that it is not me who invites magistrates home or at secret dinners, neither do I call the Prosecutor General every Wednesday. I don't discuss persons, but principles. I don't insist on names, but on compliance with the law", his Press Secretariat said Sunday.

Last week, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov implied that President Radev interferes with the selection of a new Prosecutor General with the consultations he held with representatives of the judiciary and executive powers to discuss the selection criteria for, and powers of the next Prosecutor General.

Asked to comment whether the talks interfere with the judiciary, Radev noted that "fake drama" is being created. "The consultations are in line with public expectations for clear criteria, motivated proposals and transparent procedures when a new Prosecutor General is selected because our society expects justice and a real fight with corruption. This is why all institutions engaged with this selection must realize and not foget their high public responsibility," the President said.

Asnwering a question on the progress of negotiations for a new jet-fighet for the Bulgarian Army, Radev noted that this very important for Bulgaria project should not have been approached "with slogans and spells, but with actual arguments". "Since the Government and the National Assembly crossed out the [initial] procurement procedure which was a guarantee for reaching the best conditions for Bulgaria, we can hardly speak of negotiations anymore," he said.

Bulgaria initially chose Gripen fighters for its Air Force modernization project but changed its mind in late 2018 and opted for the US-made F-16.

Radev added that the tentative deal's conditions for industrial cooperation and offset, which are important for this country's economy, remain unclear. "The Government approved that Bulgarians will pay amidst unclear conditions and that they will pay more, but it does not say how much because, as you see, elections are approaching," he noted. /TH