site.btaMRF Parliamentary Group Expels 17 MPs, Rift Deepens

A day after Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Honorary Chair Ahmed Dogan called for the resignation of one of the party’s two chairpersons, Delyan Peevski, MRF’s parliamentary group decided to expel 17 MPs, including the other Chair Dzhevdet Chakarov.

The others expelled were 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 Dogan’s leadership. 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 parliamentary group, while Filiz Hyusmenova resigned as MP from the Varna Constituency.

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

Chakarov’s Reaction: This Act Is Illegitimate, Does Not Comply with MRF Charter

Commenting on his expulsion from the MRF on Thursday, Dzhevdet Chakarov said that this act is illegitimate, not in compliance with the MRF Charter, and has been adopted under the pressure of fear. According to him, the democratic principles of MRF’s operations should be restored. 

Chakarov spoke to reporters after it was announced in the plenary hall that he and 16 MPs of the MRF are expelled from the parliamentary group.

"We will prepare a position after a thorough analysis and a consultation with legal experts, which we will present," Chakarov said. "You see what the style is, what the approach is," he added. In his words, each one of them has been subjected to threats.

Peevski Blames Expelled MPs for Party Rift

"What is happening now is on their conscience," said Peevski in connection with the expulsion of 16 MPs and the other party chairperson Dzhevdet Chakarov.

"The MRF should have been united, we are not the reason for the split," he said. According to him, the 17 MP expelled themselves. "They formed a fraction MRF-17 and the colleagues expelled them," said Peevski.

Responding to a statement by Chakarov that the expelled MPs have been threatened, Peevski said that such comments are unserious as Chakarov had been “calling and pressuring everyone.” 

"Certain people want to destroy the MRF. I have always been for unity, just as I am today. Whoever splits the party is at their own expense," he said.

MEP Kyuchyuk Describes Expulsion as “Shocking Act of Sole Management”

MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Movement of Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Deputy Chair and co-President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, wrote on Facebook Thursday that the expulsion of 17 MPs from the MRF parliamentary group is 'yet another shocking act of sole management'.

"MRF expels its chair Dzhevdet Chakarov as well as the other 16 MPs who participated in the meeting with MRF honorary chair Dr Ahmed Dogan. When are we going to wake up?" Kyuchyuk added.

MRF Local Chapters, Youth Organization Take Sides

Some of MRF's local chapters from across the country  took sides in the conflict in the party. The regional local chapters of Burgas, Smolyan, Dobrich, Razgrad and Kardzhali supported MRF's Honorary Chair Dogan. So far, no local chapter has claimed support for Peevski.

MRF's Youth Organization also took Dogan's side in the rift between the two.