"For a long time I thought that an awful lot could be done with the means of journalism. But we are not in a normal situation. We are sliding more and more towards the abyss of totalitarianism and the means of journalism are not enough."
This is what journalist Petar Volgin, host of the "12+3" shows, said in an interview with BNR. and "Politically INCORRECT".
"I've always resisted going with the trend. We treat the parties in power very friendly, very lenient, understanding – 99%, while we start jumping on the heads of the parties in opposition and explaining to them how bad they are. You must have the same arshin. Either you will be respectful to everyone, or you will insult them all", said Peter Volgin in the show "Politically INCORRECT".
When asked when he decided that he wanted to change journalism to politics, the radio host replied that "this transition from journalism to politics became in front of everyone", after the Varna structure of "Revival" proposed him for the party list.
"Why "Revival"? Many people ask this. Because "Revival" is the only party that has the courage to challenge the status quo – not only Bulgarian, but also European."
Asked if he would use the vocabulary of "Revival", Volgin explained that he would continue to be "politically incorrect".
The presenter finds a "huge difference" between his case and that of Anton Hekimyan, who was a candidate for mayor from GERB in the local elections in Sofia.
"Anton Hekimyan is committed to a party that has been in power for almost its entire existence. I commit myself to a party that has never been in power, that has been the object of criticism, of slanderous spitting since its inception."
The journalist defined the suspended interview with the Russian ambassador as "the most striking manifestation of censorship in the last 35 years in Bulgaria" and noted that there is currently a "censorship vise".
"My goal has always been to have diversity, at least two points of view, two views on what is happening. To me, that is pluralism. I am extremely pessimistic about the future of pluralism in Bulgaria. In the last 2-3 years, we have media censorship that we didn't have in the times before 1989. You can no longer criticize certain politicians, certain geopolitical forces, or if you do, you will be fired. I am the exception that proves the rule."
"The broadcast "Politically INCORRECT" was born at the invitation of the then General Director of Radio Andon Baltakov. We talked with Bojan (Petrov – note ed.), his bright memory, we came up with this show. The main thing we were thinking about is that I shouldn't be the only one leading it. We were both of the opinion that there must be another presenter good enough, with an opinion different from mine. All sorts of names were being thrown around, not just from the radio. We wanted the person to be a bright enough person and not to think like me," Petar Volgin also shared about the show he is leaving to run for MEP.