"Let me be clear: there is no, and there cannot be any confrontation between Dogan and Peevski. There is no, and there cannot be a Dogan-Peevski conflict. There is no and there cannot be a Dogan-Peevski issue," Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Chairman Delyan Peevski said in a statement released by his party's press centre on Sunday.
Peevski's comments were prompted by recent tensions in his party and allegations that there is a conflict between him and MRF Honorary Chairman Ahmed Dogan.
Peevski said, however, that there is a conflict and an issue, and this conflict and issue is between him and the people "who got rich at Ahmed Dogan's expense".
"Anyone who has been in politics for a long time knows that boundaries can be crossed all too often and all too easily. And this has always been considered part of the unwritten rules of the game. But even in this game there are boundaries that are not to be crossed. Never and under no circumstances," Peevski said, adding that as a politician he has been able to engage in dialogue and find balance.
He stressed that there is one thing he will not accept, allow or overlook: "no one, regardless of their motive, ambition, personal or group egoism, has the right to set me against the Honorary Chairman of MRF, Dr Ahmed Dogan."
"Dogan is the leader whom I have always stood by in the most difficult moments, no matter what. When they betrayed him, when it was difficult, when everyone went into hiding, I was still by his side. And the other thing - he's always been there for me, even when it's been very, very difficult. We've always been together," Peevski said.
According to him, in recent days there have been machinations, insinuations and manipulations. Peevski said that he turned to Dogan with all respect, to Dogan and said: "I have always been by your side, you have always been able to count on me, and this has not changed."
"Because Dogan is the founder and Honorary Chairman of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms and no one, not for a moment has challenged that in the party, and I would not allow it to be challenged by anyone," Peevski said.
The three letters in the MRF abbreviation imply "to protect, to change the lives of our people, and our task now is to redeem the mistakes we have made over the years," Peevski wrote. He said that no one can deny his contributions to the party made in a year, following a long period of stagnation. "If anyone denies it - let them come to me and argue. And if it is my fault that I brought the MRF out of isolation and gave hope to our people, I am ready to accept this fault," he added.
"Will the MRF be stronger if Dogan and Peevski are not together!? Thank God, this question is not on the agenda at all," Peevski said, adding that the conflict is with those who got rich at Dogan's expense.
Peevski said that "not a single person has been expelled [from the MRF Parliamentary Group] except those for whom our people have insisted".
"Always, no matter what happens, I will be with those people for whom I took the burden of responsibility to be the chairman of the party. On all other issues, whenever I had to, I have talked to absolutely everybody. Nobody has talked to colleagues more than me," he said.
Peevski was adamant that he will not abandon the principles of the New Begining."I will give the young people and the renewal a chance because we have proved that we can be strong. I want young people to see that it makes sense to support the MRF. Because people have seen and believed what we can do. MRF has become a second political force with 47 MPs, with its active mayors and strong local government, and we must not let anything stop us on this path!", he pointed out, urging for unity.
On Saturday, Dogan met with members of the MRF, among them Dzhevdet Chakarov, who is also a Chairman of the MRF, as well as some of the MPs who voted against the election of GERB-UDF's prime minister designate Rosen Zhelyazkov. The meeting was held in Dogan's summer residence in Rosenets Park near Burgas (on the Black Sea).
Chakarov commented after the meeting that the MRF is not functioning normally and should return to normality and that Dogan is expected to make an address soon.
Last week, Zhelyazkov's proposed draft cabinet was not approved in Parliament, with some of the MRF MPs voting against. Before the vote, Ramadan Atalay said that there was a rift in the relations between Peevski and Dogan. According to him, the Honorary Chairman had issued a direct order that the MRF Parliamentary Group should not back the cabinet proposal.
Earlier this week, Chakarov told the media in Parliament that there was tension in the parliamentary group. In addition to Atalay, Aysel Rufad and Dzheyhan Ibryamov were also expelled from the group. Earlier, Filiz Hyusmenova, who topped the MRF candidate list in Varna, resigned from Parliament.
A few days ago, the MRF MPs who voted against the draft cabinet circulated an open letter declaring that they had complied with Dogan's order and voted against the GERB-UDF proposed cabinet. In their letter, they said they're in favour of "unity and togetherness" of the MRF under the leadership of Ahmed Dogan.
Last week, Delyan Peevski said that the MRF will be monolithic and move forward with Ahmed Dogan.
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