28/07/2025 (Agence Europe) – ALDE Party President Svenja Hahn (Renew Europe, German), Renew Europe President Valérie Hayer (French) and Bulgarian MEP Nikola Minchev met last week with Rule of Law Commissioner Michael McGrath to “raise urgent concerns about the deteriorating state of the rule of law in Bulgaria”, according to a press release on Monday 28 July. “The discussion focused on issues such as the politically motivated arrest and detention of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev and the broader assault on democratic principles”. “In recent months, we have witnessed an alarming pattern of political interference in judicial matters, increasing use of prosecutorial power to target opposition figures, and legislative efforts that risk eroding democratic checks and balances”, they lamented. The liberal and pro-European mayor of Varna is seen as the rising figure of the opposition. (SP)