MRF Parliamentary Group Expels Chair Chakarov, Another 16 MPs

UPDATED MRF Parliamentary Group Expels Chair Chakarov, Another 16 MPs

Petya Petrova

MRF Chair Dzhevdet Chakarov (centre) with MPs of MRF in Parliament, Sofia, July 11, 2024 (BTA Photo/Vladimir Shokov)

Sofia,

11.07.2024 11:24 | UPDATED 11.07.2024 11:55

(BTA)

The parliamentary group of the Movement of Rights and Freedoms (MRF) has decided to expel 17 MPs, including one of MRF's two chairpersons Dzhevdet Chakarov. The others are Alizan Yahova, Andzhey Dzhandev, Valentin Tonchev, Edis Daudov, Erduan Mehmed, Esheref Esheref, Levent Memish, Mario Rangelov, Mehmed Salim, Pavlin Krastev, Sevim Ali, Timur Halilov, Fatme Ramadan, Habibe Rasim, Hayri Sadakov and Yusein Veyselov. Twenty-five MPs voted for, with no votes against and abstentions.

The decision was announced in Parliament by Deputy Speaker Rositsa Kirova. This changes the order of parliamentary groups by the number of deputies, she said.

Last week the expelled MPs published an open letter in which they said that they were for "unity and togetherness" of the MRF under the leadership of the honorary chairman Ahmed Dogan. Of those expelled from the group on Thursday, only Pavlin Krastev did not sign the letter.

Earlier, Ramadan Atalay, Dzheyhan Ibryamov and Aysel Rufad were expelled from the MRF group, while Filiz Hyusmenova resigned as MP for Varna.

On Wednesday, Dogan called for the resignations of Delyan Peevski and five other members of the MRF leadership.

Meanwhile, MPs Ahmed Vranchev and Dimitar Nikolov submitted an application to leave the MRF parliamentary group.

"I will not give up and I will not betray the people who have given me their trust," the other MRF chair Delyan Peevski said in a statement on Wednesday.

/PP/