Vigenin: Bulgaria does not need new experiments

“I want Bulgaria to have a worthy president, one who understands the functions of the office, clearly understands what the national interest is and knows how to defend it on the international stage. I support Iliana Iotova without hesitation, because we do not need new experiments.” This was said by Kristian Vigenin, Bulgarian MEP from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, in Darik Radio’s special studio in Strasbourg. He noted that, as a member of the Initiative Committee for her nomination, he stands behind Iliana Iotova with his entire professional and political career and with a deep awareness of what Bulgaria needs.

“After years of experiments and political upheaval, Bulgaria needs a period of political and institutional predictability. Iliana Iotova embodies that” , the MEP argued. He recalled that he knows Iotova as a politician and as a stateswoman, but also as a person, because they worked together in the BSP and later in the European Parliament. “Iliana is an honest person and I have no hesitation whatsoever,” Vigenin commented.

He called the attack on Iotova over the pardon of a prisoner ugly. “If this is how we are going to run the presidential campaign, pulling out clumsy compromising material like this instead of looking for a vision for the country, nobody will win from it. History shows that when someone tries to win elections with compromising material, the one who uses it usually loses. I think this time will be no different ,” Vigenin warned.

“A pardon is a specific power. It is not an act that grants the person an amnesty . The sentence stands and the offence was committed. It is a chance to show mercy to a person with serious health problems. If it later turns out that the medical assessment does not match his actual condition, then we need to look at how that assessment was prepared and what documents were given to the Vice President” , Kristian Vigenin explained, commenting on the speculation around the case.

He outlined his key expectation of the future president: “I do not expect Iliana Iotova to question the European consensus. But I do expect her to question whether the decisions being taken are right and to open some of them up for debate. I want a president who takes a sensible approach and looks at decisions through the lens of Bulgaria’s interests.”

The MEP announced that the head of state will attend the opening of an exhibition at the European Parliament in Strasbourg marking the 150 th anniversary of Hristo Botev’s death. The initiative is Kristian Vigenin’s own , and a team from UniBIT prepared the exhibition. “The ideas Botev stood for, and for which he gave his life, are just as relevant today: freedom, justice. Valueswe have been talking about for 150 years but do not always manage to achieve. Botev is one of Bulgaria’s truly European figures , both in his positions and in his work. I am happy to host such an exhibition in the European Parliament” , the MEP said, adding that it will be a truly Bulgarian day in Strasbourg, a day of pride and patriotism.

Asked what his priorities will be in the new season, Kristian Vigenin pointed to artificial intelligence and healthcare. He aims to help Europe become more independent and develop its own capabilities, and to protect citizens from the uncontrolled development of artificial intelligence.

“The other big topic is healthcare. We are working on cardiovascular disease, the crisis with health workers, dementia and more money for healthcare in the European budget. These are issues that matter to every Bulgarian citizen” , Vigenin stressed.

Speaking about his expectations for the speech by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the MEP said he hoped she would not focus only on defence, Ukraine and people’s fears. “Security is not only about weapons, defence and borders. Security is about jobs. Security is about our children , and whether they are safe online. Security is also about housing : can young people afford a home?” This is how he summed up his view on the subject. In his view, security starts at home. “Let us start from there and give every European citizen, including every Bulgarian citizen, the confidence that the European institutions are thinking about them personally,” Kristian Vigenin said in conclusion.