NEW BULGARIAN PRESIDENT TAKES AN OATH OF OFFICE - FIRST ADDRESS

The elected President Roumen Radev and Vice-President Iliana Yotova took the oath of office in the National Assembly at 10.00 a.m. on 19^th of Janaury.

In his first address to Parliament, Radev stressed that he will be President of all Bulgarians and will oppose disunity. Radev was categorical that Bulgaria's membership in NATO and the EU was a strategic choice and should not be questioned. He said that a united Europe should be preserved by all means. He highlighted that the conducting of judicial reform should be a priority for the next National Assembly.

According to him, both Bulgaria's EU partners and the Bulgarian citizens see slow justice, low public approval of the judicial system and a widespread sense of impunity.

“I believe that judicial reform must be a priority for the next National Assembly and to achieve clear objectives: fast, fair and independent justice. But the change in the structure of the judiciary by itself will not solve the problems in the administration of justice. An integrated approach is necessary: improving procedural laws, providing the required number of magistrates, increased responsibility in the system, decisive anti-corruption measures,“ Radev said.

Radev said that the shadow of injustice also “rests on the two most important social systems: health and education”. “In the area of healthcare we report more allocated funds. But the average patient often faces additional charges, waiting and poor health services. Bulgarian doctors emigrate en masse. The system needs tighter control, less bureaucracy, it needs enhanced professional integrity, which will restore the confidence of patients and motivation that will open propsects for doctors and nurses here in Bulgaria.

In terms of education, Radev said that “we must preserve and further develop the scientific potential by fostering working relations between students and scientists and adequate funding of scientific programmes".

On the subject of economy, Radev said that the mechanisms for protection of competition were working poorly and consumer protection was not sufficiently secured by the law. "The Bulgarian economy seems sustainable, the taxes are low and there is economic growth but ordinary people see something else: thousands of Bulgarians work abroad to support their families. Village people buy goods on credit. Foreign investors are deterred by corruption and insecure normative environment."

Radev said that Bulgarians need to receive decent pay. "The transition period is a tough test for the Bulgarians, but in the desert of transition, we should not abandon the weak and the poor among which are the disabled people and the pensioners."

“The unresolved problems of the transition period have turned into a devastating demographic crisis," Radev noted. “It can be overcome only with integrated measures in the areas of the economy, education, healthcare, sports, culture, harmonious development of regions and municipalities and social policies restricting poverty and exclusion. It is important to create conditions so that young people stay in Bulgaria, create families here and bring up their children here.”

On the subject of election reform, Radev said that it should be done in such way so as not to create more problems and increase the indivudual accountability of the Members of Parliament before voters.

Radev said: "As president I don't plan on exceeding my constitutional powers, but I won't accept to have them trimmed."

“Bulgaria’s membership in the EU and NATO is a strategic choice which must not be questioned." He stressed that effective membership requires an awareness and consistent protection of the national interest within the frames of the two families.

“Bulgaria's foreign policy should be formulated inside the country and defended abroad, not vice versa. This policy should be open to the world and win friends and partners, not enemies, “ he said.

“Bulgaria has the potential to enhance its active role in South-East Europe through initiatives and actions for increasing the security, cooperation and economic development of the region,” Radev added.

“I am convinced that United Europe must be preserved by all means. The opposite would be an unforgivable waste of historical time," Radev said. He stressed that Bulgaria's Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2018 was a challenge as well as a major opportunity, which requires responsibility and a joint effort at all levels.

Touching on the migrant crisis, Radev said that it called for joint action and resolute European policy. He was adamant that Bulgaria should take steps to boost its border controls and curb the number of illegal migrants.

Ha said that Bulgaria should insist on the revision of the Dublin Treaty, which gives the peripheral countries of the unions the role of a buffer zone.

“There is obviously a crisis between the EU and NATO on the one hand and Russia on the other, but an escalation of confrontation is not a solution, “ Radev said. In this context the role of the President is to help to resolve the crisis through the existing mechanisms of the unions to which the country is a member.

In the closing remarks, Radev said that together with the Vice President, Mrs. Iotova, they will dedicate all their efforts to justify the people’s trust.

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