Bulgaria’s Deputy PM Konstantinova apologised to everyone who felt offended by her video address

Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister, Kalina Konstantinova, on June 2, apologised from the parliamentary rostrum to all those who felt affected by her video address on May 30. This address and the problems related to the relocation of the Ukrainian refugees gave the opposition GERB-UDF the reason to ask Konstantinova for more information on the issue.

Deputy PM: Government shuts down relocation plan for Ukrainian refugees, until it is clear how many people really need shelter

Before answering the questions specifically, Kalina Konstantinova apologised to all those who had felt offended by her words in the video address, in which she announced the suspension of the plan to relocate the Ukranian refugees from hotels on the seaside to state-owned facilities in the interior of the country.

"I would like to offer my apologies to those Bulgarian and Ukrainian citizens who felt affected by my words, this was not my intention," Kalina Konstantinova said.

In response to her words, almost the entire parliamentary group of GERB-UDF raised posters, on which it was written “resignation”.

"Only the volunteers and the Bulgarian municipalities deserve admiration for what they have done. Neither you nor the rest of the Bulgarian government can boast of any progress or a definite better attitude towards the refugees from Ukraine," added Desislava Atanasova, chair of the GERB-UDF parliamentary group.

Kalina Konstantinova explained in detail the steps taken by the government. She said that the task of sheltering 60,000 people for 3 days was a serious challenge.

She announced that to date there are less than 500 people in the buffer centres and 3,000 accommodated in state-run facilities, while more than 12,000 people live in hotels supported by the state. She assured that Ukrainians in buffer centres would be there for no more than 48 hours. She accused GERB that at the time when they were the ruling party in Bulgaria, refugees stayed in buffer centres for months.

"We faced a challenge that Bulgaria has never faced. We didn't even allow a severe humanitarian crisis. No people were on the streets, and the risk of that was huge," Kalina Konstantinova added.

Elissaveta Belobradova of “Democratic Bulgaria” agreed that the situation was difficult, but did not spare her remarks to Konstantinova.

"I understand that the situation is very difficult, I understand that the situation is unprecedented, but the bitterness that you demonstrated about the lack of success at a given moment, about the results, cannot be directed at mothers and children fleeing war. We, who have been elected to represent the Bulgarian society in Parliament, have no right to be bitter, only people have the right to be bitter with us. That is why I am glad that you apologised," said Elisaveta Belobradova.

Asked how much money has been spent on refugees, Konstantinova explained that Bulgaria has 150 million BGN, which are unspent funds redirected from operational programmes of the European Commission.

Of these, 52 million were paid to hoteliers, 12 million to the Bulgarian Red Cross, local governments, NGOs and nearly 13 million to stimulate employment. “We Continue the Change” defended the government's actions and in turn attacked the opposition.

"It is extremely ugly to use the process of relocation of Ukrainian citizens for political attacks, for bringing tension, especially against the background of what has been done so far. This, colleagues from GERB, is shameful," said Andrei Gyurov, chairman of the “We Continue the Change” parliamentary group.

He assured that the Bulgarian state will continue to provide protection, shelter and food for all refugees from Ukraine who have nowhere to return to.