site.btaContinue the Change Co-leader Petkov Accuses President Radev of Pseudo-Patriotism, Lust for Power

Continue the Change (CC) co-chair and former prime minister Kiril Petkov wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday that most politicians, who puff themselves up with pseudo-patriotism, desire more power or are trying to keep the power they already have. Petkov's post was in response to President Rumen Radev's critical statement directed at the Government on Saturday.

Petkov's post reads: "We all understand that the real drama behind the president's words is that he simply doesn't want his chief secretary replaced, despite the ostentatious murders, horrific acts of violence and chilling crimes". Petkov is adamant that the public's security is more important than one's need for control.

The former prime minister also commented the topic of potentially changing the date of Bulgaria's national holiday from the current March 3 - Liberation Day. He wrote: "This holiday is a very important day for Bulgarian history and will remain important forever. I want it to be a holiday that all Bulgaria celebrates and never forgets". According to Petkov, the proposal to make May 24 [the Day of the Bulgarian Alphabet, Education and Culture and of Slav Letters] a national holiday does not diminish the importance of March 3.

The CC leader states that Bulgaria can be a great and prosperous country again, if knowledge and education are regarded as an absolute virtue by future generations. "This is exactly where true patriotism lies, as it also looks to the future of our children," the post concludes.

On Saturday, Radev told reporters: "Blacklists of citizens and journalists are being published, media are being pressured, calls for censorship are being made, the Interior Ministry and the services are being taken over to vitiate the elections and use them for self-interested political and economic goals". He also described March 3 as a cause that unites millions of Bulgarians here and around the world.