site.btaMRF Terminates ALDE Membership, Leaves Renew Europe Group

In a letter to the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Chair Delyan Peevski said that the party has decided to terminate its membership in ALDE, and its MEPs will leave the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament, said Monday the press center of the coalition MRF - New Beginning.

The decision was made after in-depth analysis and debate within the party, related to the future and the fundamental values upon which the development priorities should be built and followed, as reflected in the programmatic documents of MRF’s National Conference, held on Sunday.

On Sunday, the Presidency of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament said it has unanimously decided to recommend the termination of membership of the MRF party due to the actions of its Chair, Delyan Peevski, who is sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act.

MRF's letter expresses dissatisfaction with the European liberals' distancing from the people's agenda and their focus on policies related to specific groups and interests, "which are not aligned with the problems and issues that concern people in Europe and Bulgaria."

ALDE has also demonstrated a consistent policy of double standards in its assessment of events taking place in Bulgaria, particularly the lack of response regarding charges of corruption and abuse of power against Dzeyhan Ibryamov, arrested while he was taking a bribe, Kiril Petkov with the arrest of the opposition leader, Assen Vassilev with a smuggling scandal in the customs, and Ahmed Dogan, who allegedly embezzled BGN 30 million from the Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB), as well as representatives of parties that are part of ALDE, the statement says.

ALDE tolerates or at least turns a blind eye to ties with Russia, the statement also notes.

"The processes of divergence in principles, values, and actions have not emerged recently, but until today we have been patient, in the name of common European values," the letter states. "However, today we are firm in our stance – for us, the main and only priority is the people, their well-being, the affirmation of traditional family values, and the defence of a modern and prosperous Bulgaria and Europe."

The new beginning for MRF is incompatible with membership in ALDE and the Renew Europe group, which are trapped in the outdated liberal model of a bygone era, the party added. Today, MRF officially declares that it will terminate its membership in ALDE, its MEPs will leave the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament, and it will end its membership in the Liberal International and all associated liberal organizations, the statement says.