FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE OF BULGARIA’S OUTGOING PRESIDENT PLEVNELIEV

"An undoubtedly very difficult but honourable and successful term of office ended," Bulgaria’s outgoing President Rosen Pleveneliev said on 18th of January in the opening remarks of his speech at the last press conference to consider the work done by the presidency for the past five years.

The head of state stressed that his 5-year term of office was marked by a record number of international crises – migrants, terrorist attacks and “parallel ongoing crises in the region and the world." In Bulgaria, the political opposition led to parliamentary crises, low trust in institutions and civic protests. "During the term, I worked with five governments and three parliaments," he said and noted that the period 2012-2013 was particularly critical.

Plevneliev said that the two caretaker governments appointed by him brought tranquility to the country and the society. "The presidential institution was a center of stability and guarantor of continuity," the President said. For him the meaning in politics is to empower the members of the public and started the initiative "Dialogue with the Public", set up an Electoral Board and community councils in each ministry. "I introduced direct democracy in the country. I am proud to be the first Bulgarian head of state who initiated a referendum” he said.

He stressed that five consecutive governments have already implemented the National Programme for Development Bulgaria 2020."I have ensured this continuity, " the President noted adding that he set "strategic national priorities such as innovations, e-government, e-voting, modernization and connectivity, dual system of education, energy efficiency, liberalization and diversification."

"During my term, over 70,000 new well-paid jobs were created." Plevneliev said. The President stressed that as a result the economic diplomacy he led, Bulgaria’s bilateral trade with China and Turkey has doubled and the exchange of goods with Romania has increased. "I visited Germany many times. We achieved a record high exchange of goods worth 6.3 billion Euros. Today Germany is our biggest market. Dozens of new German factories were built, " Plevneliev remarked.

He is proud to be the first Bulgarian president who ensured gas from an alternative supplier.

"In 2013, hundreds of thousands of Bulgarians protested against energy monopolies. At the end of the term of office, the electricity market is fully liberalized and individuals and companies are free to choose their supplier of electricity. For the first time develop, the country develops own sources of natural gas in the Black Sea shelf, " the head of state emphasized.

He thanked everyine who contributed to the large-scale modernization programme, conducted during the term of office. "Motorways have been built, water treatment plants, underground, thousands of other projects," Plevneliev added.

He emphasised that Bulgaria's economy was on the upswing and had the second best growth among the Member States of the European Union - 3.6%, unemployment is at a record low level - 7.1 %, according to Evrostad. "The state fiscal reserve and exports reached record high levels," the head of state said.

The caretaker government with Prime Minister Marin Raikov, appointed by me, has introduced rules for transparency in the management of public money in the best interest of the Bulgarian people, not the oligarchs," he said.

Plevneliev recalled that an important step was made in the process of reforming the judicial system, including changing the Constitution and the Judiciary Act.

"Today the big topic in the society is justice. We are all indebted to the people and responsible for the low confidence in the institutions. In international aspect, I conducted a consistent policy for active membership of Bulgaria in the EU and NATO, " Rosen Plevneliev said. As a convinced European, I said clearly from the start that EU for me was not a foreign policy, but my family.

“I make a big difference between the Russian president and the Russian people. I love Russia, I said, but did not approve of the policy conducted by the Russian president.”

Plevneliev reiterated his criticism of Putin’s policy drive to rearrange spheres of influence. “This is a very dangerous policy,” he added.

"We were not a Trojan horse. I was adamant that Bulgaria is the master of his own destiny. I was faced with numerous challenges. I conducted a balanced and principled foreign policy. I strongly condemned the violation of the principles of international law and the rule of law, " said Plevneliev.

“I contributed to the establishment of Bulgaria as a reliable ally and partner, guarantor of peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic space and the European values. During my term of office, Bulgaria was a good neighbour in the region, a trusted partner in the EU, a strong NATO ally.”, he noted.

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