President Radev to the caretaker ministers: This second term will be even more difficult, the problems are many and the expectations are high

The new caretaker government, headed by Gulub Donev, officially took office on February 3. President Rumen Radev presented the priorities of the cabinet.

"The main priorities should be aimed at guaranteeing the purchasing power of Bulgarian citizens and fighting against impoverishment, supporting the most vulnerable, curbing monopolies and speculation, improving the conditions for economic development, supporting domestic producers and attracting foreign investment. The main task of the government is to prepare fair and transparent elections and it is getting more complicated against the background of the new changes in the Electoral Law," President Rumen Radev said, expressing confidence that the cabinet will do everything necessary to ensure that the vote of the Bulgarian citizens is not distorted.

The government's commitment to security remains and work on modernisation projects should continue to develop. Radev expects greater strengthening of border security in cooperation with the European Commission, the fight against crime, financial crimes, lawlessness on the roads, drug trafficking. He expects continued efforts to strengthen statehood, justice reform, the fight against corruption, despite - in his words - the abdication of parliament on these issues. He also expects the National Children's Hospital project to continue to develop, as well as preparations for the air ambulance project. The President expects ministers to build on the successes achieved in European integration.

Radev said that a highly contested election campaign awaits them and some of the participants in it will try to extract dividends by riding on the back of the caretaker cabinet, provoke them, justify their failures and attribute their successes to them. However, the President urged the ministers to keep their composure and not to interfere in the campaign. Not to take sides, but to stand up for the truth and the interests of the ministries they represent and, above all, of the Bulgarian citizens.

"This second term will be even more difficult because the problems are many and the expectations are high. Keep your finger on the pulse of the people's problems and work for them. This is the stake for your success. Good luck," Radev said.

"Exactly six months ago you took responsibility for governing the country at a difficult time. The forecasts portended very negative scenarios for the economy and the well-being of the people. Blocked institutions, record fuel prices and lack of gas, of contracts, of slots, of tenders, a bulk interconnector and skyrocketing prices. Frozen infrastructure projects, lack of laws on RRP, zero approved EU programmes, no progress in European integration, blockage of Kapitan Andreevo (border crossing), stagnation in the modernisation of the Bulgarian army, record migration pressure, war near our borders. That is why the priorities I addressed to you were directed with this focus, including strengthening security, guaranteeing supplies, bringing down the price of energy carriers with a focus on the interests of ordinary consumers and the Bulgarian economy. Strengthening European integration and especially focusing on the purchasing power of Bulgarian citizens," President Rumen Radev said.

He said that without parliamentary support, the government had managed to stop the "free fall of the state", avert crises, hold fair elections and open new opportunities for the country's upward development.

He gave the example of one of the most critical sectors, energy, where the interconnector with Greece was completed and the first transparent real tenders for the supply of liquefied gas were organised. The problem of slots has been solved, and for decades to come, by doubling the capacity of the Alexandroupolis terminal and the agreement with Turkey.

The cabinet has managed to lower the price of fuel to the lowest in Europe and Lukoil has managed to register and pay its taxes in the country.

Radev also highlighted the steps taken to support the most vulnerable segments of the population. The missing laws on the Recovery and Resilience Plan have been prepared and the implementation of this plan has actually started. All 10 European programmes have been approved, guaranteeing a solid investment in the coming years.

"For the first time, the state with all its might has stepped on Kapitan Andreyevo in an effective partnership with our neighbours and EU partners, border security has been strengthened and illegal trafficking of migrants has been significantly reduced, while healing processes have started in the Ministry of the Interior system," Radev added.

He congratulated the cabinet for managing to control the main factor that generates inflation - energy prices.

Caretaker Prime Minister Gulub Donev, for his part, said that being a minister for a second term has one serious advantage.

"You already know what is coming and you are ready for the second season of the political “surviver”. We have the experience of the first term, we know what comes next, especially since the attack of some of us did not even wait for the predicted end of the 48th National Assembly," he said and promised:

"We will continue to responsibly and transparently do the job for which we were elected and appointed by the President. We will maintain calm and reasonable dialogue in public relations. Our priority in the next two months will be the organisation and preparation of fair, democratic and free elections and this time the Central Election Commission can count on the assistance and support of the government to deal with the difficulties that emerge as a result of the changes to the Electoral Code voted by the majority of MPs in the 48th National Assembly. As we did last year, we will not participate in the election campaign. This is not our scene. We will pass by petty political provocations, but we will be uncompromising with lies. We will not participate in the carving of new dividing lines. We will continue our efforts to restore the trust of the Bulgarian citizens in the state," Donev promised.

Yesterday, President Rumen Radev signed the decrees to dissolve the 48th National Assembly on February 3, 2023 and to schedule parliamentary elections for April 2, 2023. By another decree, the head of state appointed a caretaker government from 3 February 2023. The only new person in the new cabinet is Culture Minister Naiden Todorov, who replaces Veleslav Minekov in the post.

The first meeting of the new caretaker government is scheduled for this afternoon. The cabinet will consider and adopt the cost plan for the preparation and production of the parliamentary elections on 2 April.

The Central Election Commission has already approved a draft cost estimate for the vote. The timetable until the elections is also clear.

On 1 March the CEC will hold a draw to determine the order under which the registered parties and coalitions will appear on the ballot paper. The opening of the election campaign is at 00.00 on 03 March and the end is at 24.00 on 31 March.

It is now clear how the 240 seats will be distributed among the districts. On the basis of the last census and because of depopulation of some districts at the expense of others, the CEC has calculated that 4 districts are getting additional representatives at the expense of 6 others which are losing MPs.

Images by Dessislava Kulelieva

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