site.btaGERB Leader Borissov Says Crisis Cannot End While State Is Disunited

GERB leader Boyko Borissov Saturday launched the party's campaign for the June 9 national parliament and European elections in Burgas. He said: "Bulgaria is directionless now. Hopefully, the Bulgarians will realize we cannot end the crisis while the state is disunited. The last three years have born bitter fruit."

Borissov recalled that he had led governments after the financial collapse known as "the Greek crisis" and after the migrant crisis.

Mariya Gabriel, Eva Maydell and Rosen Zhelyazkov were some of the GERB members accompanying him at the event.

Borissov also said: "Using a devious plan, Continue the Change robbed you, picked every Bulgarian's pocket. [Former finance minister] Assen Vassilev is smart and knows that the coffers are empty, and he also knows what to do - raise taxes."

"They have dishonestly prepared everything in the last three years, lying all the way," he said.

Addressing journalists, Borissov said they had asked a barrage of questions during a previous election campaign about what would happen if the Burgas-based Lukoil Neftochim refinery was left without the derogation from the EU ban on processing oil originating from Russia. It was presumed that the refinery would close down and that petrol would soar to BGN 4 per litre (about EUR 2). Borissov said: "I told you, they steal BGN 1 per litre of petrol and diesel oil. How much is fuel now, without the exemption?"

At present, the average price of A95 petrol is BGN 2.70.

The European Commission granted the oil derogation to Bulgaria in 2022 due to the country's specific geographic exposure. It was revoked on March 1, 2024, by a National Assembly resolution ahead of the European Commission deadline of December 31, 2024.