President addresses the people and MPs at the opening of the new parliamentary session

In the deep moral and institutional crisis, in the growing distance between the public and those in power, it is the National Assembly that is the institution that should show responsibility in its decisions for civil peace and for the future of Bulgaria, Bulgaria’s head of state, President Rumen Radev said in his address to the people and the National Assembly at the opening of the new session of the Parliament on September 2.

Before the start of the President's speech, GERB MPs left the plenary hall. "Leaving the hall is indicative of the lack of dialogue and why people are out in the streets protesting," the head of state commented. "Escape will not save you from shame. This proves that the real Parliament is in front of the building," he said from the rostrum.

Exactly a year ago, from this rostrum, I addressed the people and the National Assembly, outlined the situation in the country. Parliamentary scrutiny of the executive must be strengthened, have more transparency in the institutions, introduce financial decentralization, improve the business environment. I called on Parliament, as the central body, to take action to achieve these important goals for the public. I have clearly stated that the time for change is running out, just as young Bulgarians are running out, as Bulgarian villages and Bulgarian pensioners who have been left to fend for themselves are dying. These words of mine were ignored, but today the street is filled with indignant people worried about the future, Radev stressed.

"After two months of relentless protests in the country, the unprecedented consolidation of the Bulgarians abroad, the severe discrediting of Bulgaria in the world media, I think everything has been said and the diagnosis of such a government has been finally made," the President said.

I expect the Parliament not to take on the role of service staff of the Prime Minister anymore, not to change the agenda of the society, not to defile parliamentarism with illiterate exercises for a new Constitution, which aims only to save today's government. This only prolongs the agony and fuels people's anger. It was not the lack of a new constitution and the Grand National Assembly that brought people to the streets, but the lack of morale in the government, undermining the foundations of statehood and corruption," Radev added.

“The Bulgarians have clearly stated their will for immediate resignations. That is what you hear outside on the street today - the resignation of the government and the Chief Prosecutor, fair elections and new trust. People have come out of the hypnosis of propaganda, overcome fear and insist on their right to live in a normal state. A wish incompatible with the current government," Radev told the lawmakers.

"The Bulgarian Parliament is the highest institution in the country and should be the most respected. But it depends on whether the people's MPs will make their decisions in accordance with the will of their voters. When trust is irrevocably lost, it is clear what should follow – resignation. I agree - there must be a debate on changes to the Constitution and on turning our country into a country with the rule of law, a real separation of powers, effective and transparent institutions," he said.

"However, these debates, and future decisions, must be led and taken by the next government. Thousands of people from outside are proof that enormous public energy for change has been accumulated. A strong civil society has been born in Bulgaria that will seek a solution for a true European future, which will require morality in politics and will be uncompromising to any ruler who dares to betray the public interest," Rumen Radev said.

"As a person who expresses the will of the people, I urge you to follow the will and demands of the Bulgarians for the immediate and unconditional resignation of the government. We have no other way out of the blockade of the state than the peaceful and normal act of resignation as the trust is lost," the head of state said.

For the second time since the beginning of his term of office, the head of state used his constitutional power to address the people and MPs for the opening of a plenary session.

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