This is a good step. The other would be quite scandalous – impudence that would not be accepted. This was what Nikolay Denkov told journalists about the departure of Ivaylo Ivanov from the post of Chief of Staff of the Minister of Internal Affairs Daniel Mitov, quoted by novini.bg. Ivanov, who was appointed to the post on Friday, held the position of Secretary General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2020, when police used violence against protesters under the columns of the Council of Ministers in Sofia.
It makes sense to discuss the issue after we see what the cabinets will look like as a whole, because replacing one person with another, similar, does not solve the problem. It should be clear that neither the politicians in the opposition, including us, nor the society is ready to return to 2020, as some are trying to do. It should be clear that new individuals are needed who have public trust and who will unite people, not divide them. So the victory belongs to both the parties and politicians who reacted immediately, but also to the public reaction, which showed that this would not be acceptable, Denkov said.
We will be a critical and constructive opposition. This means that we will support everything that corresponds to our understanding of values and priorities and that benefits the people. What does not correspond will be criticized and we will seek solutions, as happened in this case, he added.
Asked whether "Continuing Change – Democratic Bulgaria" is ready to work with the "Zhelyazkov" cabinet, the former prime minister pointed out: "For the first time in a long time, we have completely clear political responsibility. This government was formed on the initiative of GERB and on the GERB model, with their prime minister, which means that they took the initiative, for better or for worse. This also means that they determine how decision-making will be approached. If for the regulators they seek participation from us, we will enter the process if it can be meaningful. We have said that for us it is not so much the specific names that are important, as the correct procedures, with publicity, with clarity, who nominates the given person, so that it is not anonymous, it is clear who is responsible if in time it turns out that this person is not suitable for the respective role. We are ready to participate in this process, but with clear rules and with clear responsibility of the political forces".
In response to the question whether there are other disturbing appointments in the new government, Nikolay Denkov noted: "I would like to see the whole picture, so as not to comment on individual cases, but to see what the approach is. There are many risks. As far as I understand, the cabinets will be combined from different parties. On the one hand, this is good - there will be visibility of what is happening, but on the other hand, the person who is visible in a ministry is the minister, and this tempts other parties to propose unsuitable people. There are risks that this will happen now too".