Metodi Lalov in front of FACTS: I expect an even bigger drop in the number of voters for PP-DB

For the first time in its history, DPS resorted to participation in the elections, but as part of a coalition. BSP are in crisis, PP-DB is not clear how they will appear, GERB and “Vazrazhdane” they sit aside. What to expect from the vote… Attorney Metodi Lalov spoke to FACTS.

- Mr. Lalov, the elections on October 27 are shaping up to be more and more interesting. DPS for the first time in its history resorted to a coalition. What does this mean?
- I don't know if the elections on October 27 will be interesting, but events with the registration of the parties at the moment are extremely interesting and unprecedented. We are seeing a collapse of the status quo parties. The DPS appears with two formations, the representation of the BSP has also not yet been cleared. These events are unprecedented. They show again both the deficits in our political class and the deficits in statehood. You saw the CEC's inadequate response. They had announced that they would open at 9.30am yesterday but were prevented from going to the check-in area. From whom? From MPs from DPS! Instead of the state intervening through its organs – The Ministry of the Interior and the National Security Service, and remove anyone who obstructs a state body from doing its job, nothing like that. After that, the CEC decided that they will register the two DPS parties respectively by taking the papers - without an entry number, but with the same date and time. There is no such thing when registering. Always one has submitted earlier. Therefore, there is an incoming register with numbering. Here is another example that we are again seeing a crisis of statehood and of our political class.

- Peevski's DPS or Dogan's DPS - which will be stronger in the vote…
- I have no idea. If we judge by the electorate, it should be Dogan's DPS. DPS is an ethnic party by its genesis, so Dogan's DPS should have the upper hand. However, if we judge by the decisive actions, where the biggest money and influence in the state and institutions are located, it is Peevski's DPS. As soon as Peevski was able to hit Dogan in this way and drive him out of his properties, which he used for so long, after hitting him on his participations in commercial companies, after blocking the DPS from having a normal representation, it is clearly a question for a serious and dangerous opponent. So who will prevail on both sides we can only guess and I am not in the business of predicting. But one thing is clear - the victims of this division in the DPS will be the Bulgarian Muslims, who for many years have been exploited by the oligarchy in the DPS, by the superstition. And now they will again become a victim of the battle in the DPS oligarchy, because the leadership of the DPS is oligarchic, we know about the rings of companies, about addictions. This is how Muslims will be victimized again. It is a pity, because no one deserves, no Bulgarian citizen deserves such disgusting political representation.

- We talk and observe what is happening in the DPS mainly, but there is also tension in the PP-DB and the coalition may split…
- In all the political parties that I have known in recent decades - respectively the “Democratic Bulgaria” I know it from the inside and more closely, so all political organizations suffer from the same democratic deficits when making decisions, non-compliance with the Statute, only formally presenting a decision that it is in accordance with the Statute, opposition, etc. And at the moment when it is time to line up lists, all these deficits and problems erupt, catalyze and every time a Shurobajan appointment of the designated candidates for deputies begins. Respectively, this arouses corresponding discontent among the democratically minded members and sympathizers, and so we come back to an obvious problem. And now we see it between “Democratic Bulgaria” and “We continue the change”. This coalition has been functioning for several years together and how many years have they needed to clear up their organizational problems and decision-making mechanisms. To clarify the criteria of the Statute for nominations for the election of people's representatives. But this is not done… And it is not done, because four, five or ten people from the entire organization determine who should be placed where, nominated, appointed, etc. Here, familiarity and closeness with the leader, with second and third in the leadership of the party, is a factor. This is the conflict these people could not clear up for years. And because of this problem, they will now reap bitter fruits.

Because confrontation in an organization repels voters.

Voters want to see strong representatives – honest, transparent, accountable and to know that by voting for them, these people will then keep their promises. Otherwise, there can be no problem in any organization, I'm talking relatively, because nothing in life is perfect. I expect an even bigger drop in voters for PP-DB, if this coalition survives at all. Today they have to announce the decision whether there will be a coalition or whether everyone will appear separately.

- And what comes out that “Revival“ and GERD sit a little further away and watch all the chaos unfold. It turns out that they are in the best position?
- At the moment, Borisov is a bystander and once again pretends to be a sage. Gives advice to his electorate, sends messages that are technocratic – how he will work to build dams (in relation to the water crisis), how he will build roads. Now he is trying to claim that GERD is offering solutions to problems that were created by them. At the state and local level, GERB has dominated state governance for the past 15 years. The last two or three are an exception, but it was during these two or three years of governance by other parties, including the “assembly”, that Borisov rehabilitated himself. As for “Revival“ – they are the most consistent in their messages and behavior. I don't expect them to decline, on the contrary - I expect them to rise. “Revival“ act most adequately in this situation.

- If it happens that many small parties enter the parliament, how will a government be reached…
- I don't expect many small parties to enter. With chances, they are obviously MECH, who made a relatively good result in the previous elections. I don't expect “Greatness” to perform well so that they are re-presented. Players like GERB, PP-DB and DPS, we will see what they will do. ITNs are also not involved in the main problems that other parties have. Of the other main parties, the BSP is in crisis, but I expect them to cross the line this time too, but for the next elections, this is not clear. In any case, however, part of the civil society is already working to build an alternative, and such an alternative is about to appear in the next elections, whenever they are. I expect that there will be organizations that will clearly and precisely state their participation in the political process, and if they manage to gather support, to be part of it. I would be a part of such support, as long as there are guarantees, there are mechanisms to eliminate these problems that we are talking about and have erupted in recent months.