Vigenin: Not campaigns against Bulgaria abroad, but work between the governing parties and the opposition in Sofia solves the problems

“The solution is not in political campaigns against Bulgaria and debates in Strasbourg, but in systematic and constructive work between the governing parties and the opposition in Sofia. We in the Group of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament will support a well-prepared mission to Bulgaria by the Monitoring Group on Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, and we will count on it to make the most accurate assessment of the situation.” This was stated by the Bulgarian member of the Group of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament Kristian Vigenin in Strasbourg on behalf of his political group in the debate “The continuing attacks on democratic institutions and the principles of the rule of law in Bulgaria”, called by the Renew political group.

The MEP recalled that democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law are the foundation of the European Union, and any attack on them in any member state is an attack on the whole Union. “But political abuse of these questions also undermines the trust of citizens and achieves the opposite effect,” he said.

The EU’s rule-of-law mechanisms

“Over the years the European Union has developed mechanisms to monitor the ability of member states to keep to the highest standards: the annual European Commission rule of law reports, the introduction of conditionality in providing funds from the European budget, the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor. The European Parliament has a specialised committee where these questions can be discussed, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the Monitoring Group on Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights set up within it,” Kristian Vigenin pointed out. In his view, the Renew political group, misled by its members from Bulgaria, is whipping up hysteria over problems the country has been facing for a long time.

“A weakened and insufficiently effective judicial system, a number of important judicial bodies with expired mandates, uncertainty around the anti-corruption commission, all of this is the result of the political instability and the chaotic reforms of recent years. And what are you offering us today? A propaganda debate in the European Parliament. Stopping the funds for Bulgaria. European political interference in the work of the Bulgarian court,” the Bulgarian MEP emphasised.

At the end of his speech Vigenin recalled that the man who as prime minister ordered the arrest of the opposition leader is today complaining about an investigation of a mayor carried out under the legally established procedure: “The leaders of two parties with whom the liberals governed together only a year ago are being demonised. Together they wrecked the Bulgarian constitution, which created further uncertainty in the judicial system. I will stop here. There are no innocents.”