© Georgi Kozhukharov
– Ivan Kostov
In order to return the government of Bulgaria to the principles of democracy and to impose the rule of law, the institutions that now oppose this must be broken – the special services and the judiciary. This was “suggested” by the former Prime Minister of the country between 1997 and 2001 Ivan Kostov in an interview with BTV.
He drew a parallel between the years he led the executive and today, commenting that 20 years ago, society began reforms but did not complete them because of “the resistance of a significant part of society, which dismembered political representation” with a major goal – absorption of European funding. At the same time, he said, the economy is working and expanding the thin layer of the middle class and civil society 20 years ago, which are already a significant part of society and today “want the rule of law.”
It is the people who do not accept that their country is in the hands of oligarchs, mobsters and people with retrograde thinking that went on strike last year, and not those living in extreme deprivation, Kostov said. “The bigger this stratum gets, the more they will comply with it and the more irreconcilable it will become in the confrontation with those who pervert Bulgarian democracy,” the former prime minister predicted.
According to him, this process will last several years and will go through heavy fighting. “I do not expect that this crisis we are in will bring salvation. These processes are profound,” he added.
“Civil society is left-wing, right-wing, conservative and liberal, with different views on various issues, but they are connected by the desire to complete the process of consolidation of democracy, their interest is to have the rule of law. If the political representation understands this task, it is possible to seek compromises in the next National Assembly in order to hold this battle and end it successfully, “Kostov said, adding that he could tell political forces how to do this. “It is not possible if the security sector and the judiciary are against these processes – this is the force of the state. If they are against, but have shown many times that they are, disregarding EU reports and the insistence of the Venice Commission. “They are guarding the current system, and this must be broken. The most radical reform must be carried out in the security sector – to disband the current structures, to create new ones, for the staff to pass a loyalty test,” the former prime minister recommended.
According to him, there are people who know and can carry out the reform by listing the names of the national security expert and MP candidate from “There is such a people” Nikolay Radulov and the co-chairs of “Democratic Bulgaria” Atanas Atanasov and Hristo Ivanov. However, he stressed that the responsibility for the reforms should be taken by “There is such a people”, as Slavi Trifonov’s party enjoys the greatest support from the voters and “people will assign it to them”.
Regarding the allegations of the already fired heads of law enforcement agencies, who take credit for breaking up a Russian spy network in Bulgaria, Kostov said that this is a legend for cover and a fig leaf. “The truth is that they have not done their job in the most difficult problems for the country – and” Magnitsky “, and” Turkish Stream “and Belene NPP – a huge benefit for Russia from the actions of the Bulgarian government and deepening the country’s dependence,” Kostov commented.
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