site.btaContinue the Change Co-Chair: We Will Initiate No-Confidence-Motion When Bulgaria Joins Eurozone

Continue the Change Co-Chair Kiril Petkov told reporters here on Thursday that having Bulgaria join the eurozone is an absolute priority for the Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria coalition, which is why it will fight until the day of joining to pass anti-corruption legislation. He reported that the coalition will initiate a vote of no confidence in the government, as soon as the country joins the eurozone.

Petkov stated: "We currently remain the only pro-European anti-corruption party. All parties that are pro-European and anti-corruption are starting to rise, while parties like those of [Serbian President Aleksandar] Vucic and [Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor] Orban are entering isolation. In my opinion, [GERB leader Boyko] Borissov has entered this circle of isolation."

Petkov opened his statement saying that "the New Beginning coalition has been working in perfect synchrony over the past two weeks." He specified that a Constitutional Court judge was elected by Boyko Borissov, Movement for Rights and Freedoms - New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski, BSP - United Left, and There Is Such a People (TISP).

He added: "Yesterday [on Wednesday], a Bulgarian National Bank deputy governor was also elected by Boyko, Peevski, BSP and TISP. This deputy governor turned a blind eye, when the big loans in the Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) were being distributed. Unfortunately, because we know that the new budget will inject huge amounts of money into the BDB, they chose him again."

Petkov criticized Borissov and Peevski for electing a former member of the communist security services, a person with a pro-Kremlin attitude, to the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission.

The Co-Chair of Continue the Change also referred to the price of the Ruse - Byala motorway, which the Road Infrastructure Agency reported had spiked from BGN 25 million to BGN 50 million per km. He added: "Where is that money coming from? The toll will increase by 10% in April, by another 10% in September. So, every time the Bulgarian people start to feel that the old model of having their money taken away is coming back, they should think of Boyko, Peevski, TISP, of this new coalition."