site.btaUPDATED GERB Leader Urges Parties to Address Internal Issues without Involving Institutions

GERB leader Boyko Borissov called on parties to address internal issues without involving the institutions. "My call to the parties is to address their own issues internally, not through the institutions. Keep the institutions out of this!" Borissov told a wide-ranging news briefing.

He was asked to comment rifts in both the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) and the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), which have complicated the registration of the two for the October 27 snap parliamentary elections.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) has delayed by over 2 hours the start of filing of documents for registration of parties and coalitions for the elections. The entrance to CE is blocked by a cordon of gendarmerie and supporters of the two wings of MRF: one backing floor leader Delyan Peevski and the other backing Honorary Chair Ahmed Dogan. Both groups are ready to race to the CEC office and be the first to submit their papers.

He said that in their weakness, politicians blame their problems on institutions. "But these are not the institutions' problems. Why should it be their responsibility to resolve these problems? These are independent institutions but we all leave it to them to solve our problem. Whatever decision is made, some will be unhappy," Borissov said.

Borissov also said, "If we don't form a stable government, Bulgaria won't be viewed as a serious partner, will be seen with suspicion. We will scare off our partners - not just Bulgarian people."

"Pull yourself together, win a good result and let us form a legitimate government," he said as he turned to the other parties.

He urged Bulgarians to vote on October 27. 

The turnout is expected by analysts to be close to that at the June 9 snap elections: slightly over 34%.

Going back to the squabbles inside parties, Borissov said, "See how the police is scattered: some were deployed to Rosenets, others to Boyana, still others to the BSP headquarters or the Central Election Commission. Who is protecting people?"

Boyana and Rosenets are the locations of two properties that were used for long years as residences by MRF Honorary Chair Ahmed Dogan - until the de jure owner said that Dogan had no right to live there and expelled him. The two residences turned into an arena of rallies by Dogan supporters.

Borissov further said that GERB "has never been in a coalition with BSP or MRF". "If Bulgarian people go out and vote, it will make no differences what is happening inside these parties. These are parties that would be happy to see problems befalling GERB," he added.

He argued that "migration was zero" under his government "and how Europe is shaken in this department". "What is happening in Germany, Austria and Belgium will result in starting to implement the agreements for return of migrants to the countries of origin."

The GERB leader said that the party's Executive Commission will meet to decide whether high-profile mayors can be top-of-the-list candidates in the parliamentary elections. "That will be to show that GERB is committed to the country's government after that. Not that they will become MPs but I could use them as government ministers," he explained.

He also said that he will instruct the GERB-affiliated mayors and the local party leaders to explain to people what GERB "wants to happen in the coming four years".