site.btaUPDATED Democracy, Rights and Freedoms Parliamentary Group Quits Ruling Majority

The Democracy, Rights and Freedoms (DRF) Parliamentary Group is quitting the power-sharing majority, said Valentin Tonchev MP of DRF. "We are leaving for the same reasons for which we joined," he specified.

Without DRF's 19 MPs, the three parliamentary groups backing the Government (GERB-UDF, BSP for Bulgaria and There Is Such a People) have 102 seats combined, which is short of the 121 majority in the 240-member legislature.

This makes vital the informal support that another parliamentary group, Delyan Peevski's MRF-New Beginning (29 MPs), has been giving the governance so far.

On March 28, replying to a reporter's question, Peevski denied that there was tension between him and GERB-UDF Floor Leader Boyko Borissov. "We have not gathered with him to love each other or not to love each other, but to work for the people," the DRF leader added. "If he works for the people, I will support GERB's Cabinet," he stressed.

DRF and MRF - New Beginning are factions resulting from a rift in the once-solid Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), when its Honorary Chair Ahmed Dogan and his one-time protege Delyan Peevski clashed over who should control the party.

"Democracy, Rights and Freedoms (DRF) was invited to the governance majority as a nationally responsible party with clear objectives to ensure political stability after the long-drawn crisis and to contribute to dismantling the Peevski model, which has turned institutions into an instrument for dependences, corruption and impunity," Tonchev specified.

"Instead of dismantling this vicious model, in recent months we have witnessed its consolidation. Government institutions continue to be used as bludgeons, the judicial system is ever more dependent, and corruption and illegal trade are burgeoning. Despite our consistent calls for compliance with the joint governance agreement and an open relationship on an equal footing among the partners, GERB, BSP and TISP have regrettably abandoned the "cordon sanitaire" [around Peevski] and are categorically demonstrating that they serve the interests of the Magnitski-sanctioned Delyan Peevski, who runs the Council of Ministers singlehandedly," Tonchev said.

In 2021 Peevski was designated by the US under the Global Magnitsky Act as an oligarch who "has regularly engaged in corruption, using influence peddling and bribes to protect himself from public scrutiny and exert control over key institutions and sectors in Bulgarian society." The MP is challenging the designation in a US court. His lawyers argue that there is no evidence of any wrongdoing by their client.

"We cannot and will not back any longer a majority that keeps promoting the model of backstage dealings, corruption and institutional arbitrariness," the DRF MP added. "The DRF will continue to support the bills and policies that are important for this country, and even tomorrow will move an item to be added to the agenda of the National Assembly: the formation of an ad hoc parliamentary committee to establish all facts and circumstances concerning Delyan Peevski's role in the judicial system and trading in influence through the state budget," Tonchev pointed out.

"We will discuss and will seriously consider backing the motion of no-confidence [entered by MECh and due to be debated this week], which clearly cites the state of corruption in this country as its reason," the DRF Parliamentary Group said.

Tuesday's decision comes a fortnight after the DRF met to reconsider their support for the government and decided to give it one last chance. It set several conditions for that: that the coalition agreement be observed; that the Joint Governance Council in which all power-sharing parties participate be consulted before all decisions; that the perceived judicial repressions against the DRF members stop; and that the parties in the government (GERB-UDF, BSP – United Left and There Is Such a People) make it clear that the support of MRF – New Beginning is not desirable.

Then came an incident in the Sofia borough of Boyana this past weekend, when the Dogan-supporting youth organization of MRF tried to hold a meeting in a house that Dogan used as his residence for long years (before getting expelled by a new owner and alleged Peevski aide) – and were evicted by police.