site.btaMRF - New Beginning: Parliament Resembles a Swamp, With No Regard for People's Problems

This Parliament resembles a swamp, where "each frog is trying to outcroak the rest, without regard for people's problems," Jordan Tzonev, Deputy Floor Leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) - New Beginning, said here on Wednesday, addressing Parliament at the beginning of its new plenary session in a declaration on behalf of his parliamentary group.

"While we here are focused on ourselves, the price of electricity is rising because we have not chosen an adequate independent regulator. Bread is appreciating because we did not find the time to adopt a budget or at least to extend its zero VAT rate. Fuel prices are also rising, and Bulgarians are facing serious problems because Parliament is focused on itself," Tzonev said.

Interparty dialogue has been reduced to "shameful bargaining for power." Even the much-touted Euro-Atlanticism of the so-called Euro-Atlantic parties serves merely as a flag and a screen for many shameful ambitions and power bargaining, according to Tzonev. There is no other explanation for the fact that Euro-Atlantic parties are negotiating for governance with those opposing the adoption of the euro, or with parties that want Bulgaria to side with Putin's aggression against Ukraine, he said.

In his words, it is not true that the prices of electricity and bread are rising due to the upcoming introduction of the euro. He said: "All these problems are happening to Bulgarian citizens because of the irresponsibility of the 51st National Assembly, where shameful, unprincipled bargaining for power is taking place. In two and a half months, we have not debated a single law concerning Bulgarian citizens; municipalities do not know how they will function, given the lack of a 2025 State budget."

The MPs of the MRF - New Beginning will prioritize addressing people's problems and responding to their needs, the declaration said. Other priorities listed by Tzonev include the incomes of police officers, military personnel, university lecturers, teachers and all Bulgarian citizens; freezing electricity prices and electing adequate, independent regulators. Also, the municipal investment programmes will remain a priority.