Bulgaria needs a regular government with a full governing mandate to get out of the political and financial crisis it has been in for the past four years. The negotiating teams of GERB-SDF and “BSP - United Left” have united around this. What else do the socialists want… Andrey Valchev, MP from BSP-United Left, spoke to FACTI.
- Mr. Valchev, what did the BSP National Assembly require to change its decision and from “never with GERB“, to now go to talks?
- After the BSP gathered the strength to exit the movie in which it smugly declared itself as an “alternative” to the status quo, as a “principled”, “consistent” opposition, but due to the lack of dialogue it consistently lost not only viewer interest, but also trust in society, it was logical to restore the dialogue between the party leadership and Bulgarian citizens. We hold numerous meetings, at which Bulgarian citizens ask us: “How long will you keep us busy with yourself&rdquo?” The real problems facing Bulgarian society are many enough and require a sufficiently in-depth and responsible approach. Already in the election campaign, we called for a dialogue between political forces that can put the state interest above party accounts.
- You announced that you would negotiate with all parliamentary groups, with the exception of “DPS-New Beginning”, since this political formation wants early elections. Is that all…
- The BSP is the oldest parliamentaryly represented formation, a systemic party that has managed to weave its understanding of statehood into the written and unwritten laws that are fundamental to our society. We will not violate our principles and are not ready to compromise with our understanding of the stability of our institutions and our prosperity as a democratic society built on the principles of the rule of law.
- Will the BSP want posts if it comes to a cabinet?
- Let's structure the conversation correctly so that we don't get into the swamp again. Before talking about positions and personal decisions, it must be clear whether this government will be political or expert… Will it be equidistant from all supporting political forces, or a government of a certain political force…. Will the sought-after political support be for experts, or for politically prominent individuals who will impose expert decisions
- How do you see the cabinet – with Prime Minister Borissov, another person as prime minister, an expert cabinet… How?
- With respect to Mr. Borissov's voters, because of whom he is the leader of the first political force in this parliament, we – in the BSP, the Bulgarian Socialists, do not accept and do not discuss Borissov's candidacy for prime minister. Throughout the entire campaign, we propose that the government be composed of experts with clear political responsibility from the parties supporting him. This is our proposal that we are putting on the table during these talks, for which the BSP National Assembly gave a mandate.
- The BSP signed the “sanitary cordon“ and Assoc. Prof. Natalia Kiselova became the Speaker of the Parliament. Why did we have to wait so long…
- The question is not with the BSP. Even during our first meeting with the PP-DB, which took place after the elections on November 13, 2024, we stated our reservations regarding some texts and their compliance with the Constitution and laws of Bulgaria. Regarding the first part, which states policies, we have no disagreements. We stated that we would sign this declaration, despite our objections, in case we receive support for the candidacy of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Natalia Kiselova. It was very disappointing to see that despite the declaration signed by our entire parliamentary group without exception and the assurances of Mr. Kiril Petkov and Mr. Nikolay Denkov in the hall, we again did not receive support. I am glad that in the end everything ended well - not so much for our parliamentary group, but for our country.
- Is this a success for the BSP? We are talking about the election of Natalia Kiselova as Speaker of the Parliament…
- The election of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Natalia Kiselova is a success for parliamentarism, for democratic values. A success of morality and good manners in politics, which defeated the impure pressure to which our parliamentary group was subjected to withdraw the candidacy of the most prepared among the deputies in the 51st National Assembly to be first among equals.
- Before this vote, you always voted “abstain“. What a position that was. What were you showing with it…
- The ambition of our parliamentary group is to be proactive, positive, constructive. We respect the choice of our colleagues from other parliamentary groups, but unlike others, we did not allow ourselves to vote "against" from the very beginning. Respectively, to engage in personal attacks on any of the candidates of the other political forces. All the time, we have been looking for support for our candidacy, which is valuable enough to allow us to enter into this tone or at a level of discussion, which is obviously below the level of our candidacy.
- A big topic now is the budget. How do you view the project proposed by the Ministry of Finance?
- Worrying! This budget is aspirational, without reforms, without priorities and risks social payments, investment spending and the financial stability of the state.
- You want the BSP to not register state and municipal hospitals as commercial companies. Why…
- Healthcare cannot be just a commodity offered by commercial companies. Healthcare should be accessible and of high quality. No matter whether it is in the “Borovo“ district in Sofia, or in the Borovan Municipality, Vratsa Region. I am convinced that the idea that was presented during the campaign - to have a hospital in every regional center that provides free medical care, is possible to happen within 2025.
- You are also raising the topic of resuming the construction of the “Belene” NPP… Isn't this a lost cause….
- The development and modernization of our nuclear energy is without alternative! We support the construction of new reactors. As a member of parliament from Vratsa district, I expect real action to complete the procedures for the expropriation of the properties that will fall within the terrains of the 7th and 8th units of the Kozloduy NPP. At the same time, I think that it is possible to review all options, including the project for a second NPP, in order to guarantee Bulgaria's energy security. Our energy needs both innovative sources such as photovoltaics and base and balancing capacities - nuclear energy has already been recognized by the EU as green energy. Water sources can also be utilized much better as natural batteries to balance the system - both the restoration of the Chaira Nuclear Power Plant and the construction of projects at the Batak and Dospat dams.
- The priorities of the BSP also include the topics of terminating the procedure for the election of the Prosecutor General, the election of regulators and a new Supreme Judicial Council. How will you act…
- Transparently, in compliance with the principle of legality and democracy, in compliance with the principle of separation of powers. We do not accept the Prosecutor General or judicial personnel being part of the political process in the state and we are ready to resolutely defend our vision of a democratic judicial system.