site.btaRadan Kanev on Cabinet Rotation, His Term at European Parliament

"I hope the rotation of the cabinet will happen and that it will happen as agreed. This is an important measure of the stability of Bulgarian governance and institutions in this extremely unstable international environment in which we live," said Radan Kanev, MEP, whose Democrats for Strong Bulgaria party is now part of the CC-DB coalition, while presenting a report on his term in office as MP between 2019 and 2024 at BTA's National Press Club here on Saturday. 

He added that this is also a measure of the good will of the participants in this extremely difficult parliamentary majority. It is important for the rotation to happen, for Mariya Gabriel to become prime minister in March, as well as to speed up and improve the work of the parliamentary majority, Kanev said.

"My participation in the list for the European elections has been discussed with me to the extent that I have the support of my party - Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria - to be its leading candidate within the list," Radan Kanev said. 

"I am a supporter of a common list in the format Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB). The arrangement of this list is entirely the responsibility, task and within the powers of the coalition leaders. We should participate together in these elections and fight for first place," he added. 

Commenting the already nominated candidate Nikola Minchev, Radan Kanev pointed out that Minchev is a unifying figure and he does not see a political conflict. At the end of January, the Executive Council of Continue the Change decided to nominate Nikola Minchev as its top-of-the-list candidate for the European Parliament elections, and the co-chair of the party Kiril Petkov announced that talks are starting for running jointly with Democratic Bulgaria in the European elections.

Kanev also commented on the traditionally low voter turnout at European elections. According to him, the Bulgarian governments are passive in communicating with citizens about the decisions they make at European level. This communication is simply zero, there have been some glimpses in recent months, he noted. 

The MEP also pointed out that he finds the campaign for the European elections in Bulgaria a bit late. It is clear that it cannot start before the rotation, but it would be good to start a public debate immediately after the rotation, Radan Kanev said. Let's put on the table the big issues for the next mandate before the European institutions and let's hear the opinion of the different political forces, he urged. 

Commenting his term in office in the European Parliament, Kanev highlighted his work on the Industrial Emissions Directive. "We have achieved the fulfilment of two promises at the same time - one is policies for cleaner air and a healthier environment, and the other other - a definite reduction of bureaucratic requirements and paperwork. This is a very rare balance in European legislation that I am really very pleased with, as I am with the work of my team above all," the MEP said. 

He said he and his team have submitted proposals for more than 2,000 legislative amendments. Kanev pointed out that he has raised 50 current issues before the European Commission, had just over 80 speeches in plenary and was rapporteur on 16 reports.