Vigenin: The BSP ministers are delivering results, we have to be careful with the compromises

“The BSP ministers are working very well and delivering results. Many examples can be given in each of their portfolios. They have difficult portfolios, especially regional development, environment and water, but the social sphere as well. There are many problems in them that have been left behind over the years. Now they are being solved. People sometimes have no patience, but there is clearly progress.” This was stated by the head of the Delegation of Bulgarian Socialists in the European Parliament and member of the BSP Executive Bureau Kristian Vigenin on Euronews Bulgaria television. On the compromises, he said that this is a difficult joint government in which every party has had to make its compromises. “We have to be very careful, because in the end people will judge us by the achievements, which really are serious as of today, but they will also assess us by the political compromises we have made. That is why they have to be carefully thought through,” the MEP warned.

Kristian Vigenin said that Iliana Iotova would be a worthy candidate of the left for the upcoming presidential elections. He rejected the interpretations in public that there is a link between her decision to pardon Desislava Ivancheva and possible political ambitions. “I do not understand why this link is being made between the pardon of Ivancheva and a presidential candidacy. This is within the powers of the vice-president, she answered a request and judged it that way,” Vigenin commented. In his view it is too early to make forecasts, but Iliana Iotova is among the figures who could win the elections.

The anti-corruption commission, the chief prosecutor and the deal with the US

On the Anti-Corruption Commission, Vigenin called for a sensible approach: “If we simply close this body, we will not send a good signal either at home or abroad. In my view the procedure should continue and the new composition of the commission should be determined. We cannot lightly say that from tomorrow we are closing it. Especially against the background of the rule of law report on Bulgaria that the European Commission presented two weeks ago.” He insisted on analysis and on the involvement of the opposition in the future reform.

On the comments about replacing the acting prosecutor general, Kristian Vigenin is of the view that it is not a good sign to replace him every few months. “The process has to be speeded up, the composition of the Supreme Judicial Council has to be filled as quickly as possible and a prosecutor general has to be elected, so that no doubts remain, because there is a risk that the actions taken in future will be challenged in court and everything done after 21 July turns out to be unlawful,” he commented.

Vigenin does not approve of the deal concluded by Ursula von der Leyen with the United States for a 15% tariff on European goods. In his view it looks like a retreat: “I am satisfied neither with the parameters of this deal nor with the way it was reached. The feeling remained that the EU simply capitulated. I am not convinced that the European Parliament will give this deal a green light.” The MEP is of the view that the EU should have shown more character and done more to protect European business, European companies and its citizens.