site.btaFinance Minister Denies Participation in Meetings Linked to Alleged Pressure on MRF Deputies

Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lyudmila Petkova Tuesday told reporters that on Monday afternoon the Finance Ministry received a letter in which Dzhevdet Chakarov, one of the two chairpersons of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), asks questions.

She was reacting to Chakarov's allegation of pressure exerted on MPs of MRF other than the other chairman, Delyan Peevski, and his supporters. He also claimed he had sent a letter asking the Finance Minister whether a meeting had been held with the National Revenue Agency (NRA) and the Unlawfully Acquired Assets Forfeiture Commission (UAAFC).

"I cannot comment on anyone's position," said Petkova, adding that a reply to the questions was forthcoming. "I was asked if I had participated in a meeting with UAAFC, NRA and others. I firmly deny having participated in such a meeting, either at the Finance Ministry or elsewhere," she said.

The Finance Ministry Monday issued Petkova's reaction. She urged Chakarov not to stake Bulgaria's image with European and international partners to achieve his personal political ambitions by casting doubts on the impartiality and independence of Bulgarian institutions.

Earlier in the day, Petkova, Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov and Deputy Environment Minister Viktor Atanasov participated in a hearing of the parliamentary Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds. It focused on a government-approved report by the Finance Minister on taking steps towards amending the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and preparing a proposal on the content of the REPowerEU chapter of the Plan.