PM sees a scenario for instilling civil and ethnic tension

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on July 10 gave an extraordinary briefing in response to yesterday's events. Commenting on the action of the Prosecutor’s office in the presidential institution and the protests, he said that what happened was a well-thought-out scenario for stopping Bulgaria's Euro-Atlantic path and instilling civil and ethnic tensions.

He said he does not want the country to collapse due to a well-organized protest by President Rumen Radev, with clear scenarios aimed at distancing Bulgaria from its Euro-Atlantic priorities and joining the Banking Union and the Eurozone waiting room.

"Because the state is very dear to me, so many things are being done that I do not want it to collapse out of stupidity and for many years after that to have many, many problems ... I want to prevent it," he insisted at the press conference in the Council of Ministers.

Borissov began with the incidence on Tuesday, when security guards from the National Service for Protection (NSP) did not allow former Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov, who is currently the leader of “Yes, Bulgaria” party, to the beach at Rossenets park.

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Hristo Ivanov tried to embark on a public beach which is adjacent to a property known to be used as the summer residence of Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) founder and honorary chairman, Ahmed Dogan, but was pushed off by bodyguards of the National Service for Protection (NSP) assigned to protect Dogan. Ivanov said the purpose of their beach-embarcation project was to show that Bulgarian people are not allowed to use a piece of land, which is public state property and belongs to them and that Dogan enjoys some kind of privileges which includes violation of the law. The incidence with Hristo Ivanov was livestreamed on Facebook.

At the time of the clash with Ivanov, the bodyguards refused to identify themselves and did not say whether or not they were from the NSP. Bulgaria’s President Radev made a statement the next day confirming that they were NSP staff. He added that Ahmed Dogan and MRF MP Delyan Peevski should not be guarded by the NSP. He also said that while he has formal control over NSP, the real control is with the executive power.

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"Two days ago the following incident took place, not a sketch, but an incident. Apparently public figures - Hristo Ivanov, who used to be my deputy prime minister, minister, you all know him. He embarked on a beach, carrying the national flag, visibly going there with a provocative purpose. We accept that it is the most well-intentioned. How was he met? It is expected the VIP to be there, but he was not on the beach, not sunbathing.. Nothing required such actions as the reactions from the two or three security guards," the prime minister said.

"I just see actors, one walks, carries a flag, and the other pushes him to the water. And now, what is the peak of my indignation... I do not know if they sergeants, officers... President Radev will tell us what they are... they threw the flag, being aware that this thing is being filmed. And these guards do everything possible to make it as authentic as possible. At the end of the scene, get in the car and go - where ?”, the PM said.

What does Hristo Ivanov do, to support or protest, in front of the one who is directly responsible, according to the law, of the NSP. And says he will hold Borissov responsible. For what? For 4 years, President Radev has been in charge, directly controlling the NSP. They can't twist their souls and lie. There was no law on NSP, we made it," Borissov was adamant.

"Now they want to make it look like the MRF and GERB work together, but I have publicly thanked them for all the cases when, as a party in parliament, they supported me. We have never divided the mayors and we have always given money equally, for the streets, sewerage, new schools. We would not have had enough votes for the F-16, they supported us and I think there is no doubt that the Euro-Atlantic MRF is a predictable party. They supported us for the VAT on restaurants, for books," Borissov also commented.

"The protest was well-organized. Hristo Ivanov protested against those who bathed him. And he shouted: ‘I hold Borisov responsible.’ For what? The President is solely responsible with the appointment of the director of the NSP and all its employees. Do you think that a moderately intelligent person, when aware that he is being filmed, will throw the Bulgarian flag? And they, the guards, catch him and push him back to the water, and look at the camera, knowing they are filmed," Borissov said.

Commenting on the actions of the Prosecutor’s office in the Presidency, as a result of which two high-ranking officials were detained yesterday, Borissov said he did not say a word when the Prosecutor's office entered the Council of Ministers and when he learned from the media how his ministers and deputy ministers were being detained.

"When the Prosecutor's office enters the buildings of the Council of Ministers and takes them out one by one, ministers and deputy ministers. Have we said a word? And I learn it from the media. And I watch my minister with handcuffs in custody. "

"I saw how after the operation in the most important service of the Ministry of Interior - the directorate for combating organised crime, they were ordered on the floor. And I immediately demanded their resignation. Ivo Spiridonov (head of the directorate) worked with me for 20 years, a wonderful officer, but took responsibility," said Borissov.

The PM was adamant: "What a coup, no one (from the Prosecutor’s office) went to the President, but to his officials. If they are guilty, they will bear the responsibility."

According to him, everything is because of today, which is extremely important.

"Why is this, because today is an important day, we will work all day. This rage comes because if we succeed - it will happen. It will not be possible for banks to go bankrupt, interest rates will fall, the credit rating will rise, and we will be in the place of the most successful, in the heart of the EU. We are waiting for news tonight, after 8 pm, and I ask if there is a right-wing person who does not what it means to join the Banking Union, to stand by the successful countries, to be in ERM 2," he said.

"MRF - this is the topic now. When they support BSP and Radev - there is no topic. When they support Euro-Atlantic decisions, there is a problem. They are the ones who most support Bulgaria's entry into the eurozone waiting room. That is, there is nothing else. I have never been to the winter or summer properties, but many of the protesting leaders were there. When I do something with the MRF, I go out and say: Municipalities don't have to wait for a change of government to get funds.

Yes, when investigating such oligarchs, such names, it is very difficult for a government to hold on. These are huge resources.

"There is no good fight, when you clench your fist, you have to know that there is a fist on the other side as well. Even if you win It hurts. There is no good fight especially in the conditions of the worst pandemic that is developing," Borisov said.

He addressed his opponents: "To show a little statehood thinking. Ethnic peace is very important. Of course, the municipality and the district in Bourgas - the beach in question, should be designated as a beach, and who wants to go there sunbathing, should be able to go and do it. Like the one in Evksinograd, like a tourist attraction who wants to go to the beach, take pictures, watch. This has to be done."

Boyko Borissov asked: "What is the difference between a disco and last night's event of Radev?"

According to him, for non-compliance with the anti-epidemic measures recommended by the task force, the protesters and the head of state should also be fined.

"The protest was completely dictated by him, if you think it's spontaneous, you're wrong. 2, 3, 4 thousand people - they showed yesterday that they absolutely do not care what the task force against coronavirus recommends. I was fined for non-compliance with anti-epidemic measures, and they should be fined too.

In Stara Zagora we held an event and we were fined for not wearing masks. Will they dare to fine them now? If the task force does not hold a public debate today, I will change the orders to let the discos and bars re-open, if the Presidency does not comply with the measures. After yesterday's rally the number of cases may rise even further. I tell them with all my responsibility, don't do it, an extremely difficult year or years is ahead. Do they not understand that. We need absolute consensus at the moment. We need to be aware what awaits us," Borissov added.

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