Home » News » Rumen Radev and Anastas Gerdjikov clashed in debate

Rumen Radev and Anastas Gerdjikov clashed in debate

Presidential candidates Rumen Radev and Anastas Gerdjikov, who run in the run-off on November 21st, clashed in a debate on BNT.

The formation of a regular government

“From the very first consultations, I urge the parties to find a way to dialogue, we must have a regular government. The price at which it can be achieved must be carefully weighed. The government must be formed around a clear vision of how to get out of the crisis, “Radev said.

Photo: Ladislav Tsvetkov


“I believe that there will be a government and throughout the campaign I repeated that the most urgent thing for Bulgaria is to have a government and a regular cabinet,” Gerdjikov said.

He rebuked Radev for failing to find common ground between the parties in the 45th and 46th National Assemblies, rather than looking for dividing lines.

The president is not an architect of coalitions, the president creates conditions for this debate to proceed in the best way, the president replied.

Rumen Radev reiterated that he is not behind the formation of Kiril Petkov and Asen Vassilev “We continue the change” and is not involved in political engineering. If I decide to create a party, I will stand in front, he said.

Relations with the MRF

Regarding the profile for president mentioned by MRF leader Mustafa Kardayi, Anastas Gerdjikov commented: “What I have heard is that the presidential candidate must be a unifier of the nation, a face of the state and a face of the country to the world.” He asked Radev if he did not recognize himself in the same profile.


Photo: Ladislav Tsvetkov


“The MRF leadership has long demanded my resignation – Bulgarians remember why, I will not list it here. The president is not politically neutral, he is obliged to have an opinion, a political assessment, “Radev commented.

It is clear from his words that he is not worried about the calls of the MRF, because the voters have free will, and in the first round he was supported by their supporters.

Gerdjikov stressed that in the first round he received 80% of the votes of GERB and about 10% of the other parties.

He attacked Radev with the words: “Your Chief of Staff Boyko Rashkov gave false news.”

“Only people who rely on a bought vote can condemn the actions of Boyko Rashkov. People massively approve, thank that they are no longer crushed, Radev added “, Radev countered.

The Macedonian question

According to Gerdjikov, another approach to northern Macedonia is needed and talks should begin.

“The only thing the Bulgarian state wants is to respect the Treaty of Good Neighborliness, to stop the language of hatred and to respect the rights of Bulgarians there and to improve transport connectivity,” said the rector of Sofia University.

Radev reminded that the rights of Bulgarian citizens in northern Macedonia are still being violated.

Before we have received clear and irreversible guarantees, I guarantee that Bulgaria cannot say “Yes” to the membership of the Republic of Northern Macedonia in the European Union, before the violation of the rights of Bulgarian citizens in the RSM is stopped, the Bulgarian cultural heritage, to eradicate hate speech in museums, state institutions, textbooks, “said the President.

Relations with Russia

“Relations with Russia must be pragmatic. We have an interest in working with Russia, just as we have an interest in working with any country with a similar economy, “said Anastas Gerdjikov.

Radev announced that Russia could not be an enemy of the Bulgarians because they saw it as a liberator.

“Drowning politicians are resorting to Russia. The most important thing is to look for dialogue. The EU-Russia dialogue is in critical condition. “President Biden has started a dialogue with Putin through the head of the EU,” Radev commented.

Gerdjikov described this position as the convergence of positions between the two

“In no case should we be divided into Russophiles and Russophobes. We have an interest in working with Russia as we would have an interest in working with any country with such an economy. Crimea is Ukrainian. It doesn’t matter what flag is flying over it, because every time a country annexes a territory, it hoists its flag on it, “Gerdjikov added.

“It is important to have pragmatism in foreign policy, sanctions do not work, we have no change in behavior, so the EU Council is looking for pragmatic approaches to solve these problems. Germany has huge investments in Russia, these things are done with a pragmatic policy. “Russia is an important factor in security and the fight against terrorism,” Radev replied.

COVID crisis and measures

“The green certificate has given the economy a chance to live – public and cultural life to continue to function. The necessary solutions for the health crisis are already underway and the caretaker government is implementing them. As of today, Reuters data show that Bulgaria is the first in terms of the decline in the number of infected people in Europe, “Radev defended the measures introduced by the caretaker government.

According to him, the most important task of the caretaker government was not to leave anyone without medical assistance.

Gerdjikov expressed the opinion that the introduction of the requirement of a green certificate hinders the economy.

“Hospitals are overcrowded and the death toll is rising. We are not dealing with the crisis because the measures were introduced too late. Things are not so rosy, so I urged you to come down to earth. It is not true that there are materials and medicines. It is not true that the medics received their money. “Take to the streets, ask the first person you meet if we are dealing with the crisis,” Gerdjikov attacked.

Radev said he almost always visits hospitals in the towns he visits.

The two presidential candidates confirmed that they had been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Honestly and personally

Both presidential candidates have announced that their best adviser is conscience.

Gerdjikov identifies workaholism and the mixing of work with personal life as his biggest mistake.

Radev describes as a mistake that he failed to contribute earlier to the overthrow of the Borissov regime.

As his strongest quality Radev pointed out purposefulness, and the weakest – overconfidence.

Gerdjikov described his trust in people as his strongest and weakest qualities.

They both said they knew how to forgive, but treachery and lies were unforgivable.

The greatest achievement in Gerdjikov’s life was finding a common language with everyone, and Radev – his children and his success in transforming the model of military training.



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