Brussels, 08/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 8 July, the German and French ambassadors to Bulgaria called on Bulgarian leaders to break with oligarchy, against a backdrop of daily demonstrations against corruption and political elites.
In a joint declaration on the domestic situation in Bulgaria, Philippe Autier from France and his German counterpart, Matthias Hoepfner, express their concern. In their declaration quoted by AFP, they declare that “belonging to the EU is a choice of civilisation. The oligarchic model does not have its place there, in Bulgaria or elsewhere”. They add that a well-governed Bulgaria is in the interest of Bulgarians and also of the whole of the EU.
The declaration comes at a time when daily demonstrations of thousands of people have taking place since 14 June, particularly in Sofia, calling for the resignation of the Socialist-backed government. Prime Minister Plamen Orecharski lost credibility shortly after taking up his post at the end of May, by appointing a press magnate with a dubious reputation to head the national security agency. This latter was also a member of the minority Turkish Muslim Party (MDL), which, together with the Socialists, supports Orecharski's government. The decision provoked a fresh wave of protests against the corruption of élites following the demonstrations last winter against poverty which led to the fall of the Conservative government of Boiko Borissov and early general elections on 12 May. The two ambassadors emphasise that Bulgarian society “is concerned by the penetration of private interests in the public sphere”. They also underline that “the need to appoint uncontroversial and competent individuals to public office and put the public good above individual interests, as well as resist pressure, is obvious in democracies”. On Friday, the Bulgarian head of state, Rossen Plevneliev, urged political leaders to make a gesture to the demonstrators, failing which “the only democratic solution” would be to hold new elections. (LC/transl.fl)