Sofia and Ankara, which have been avoiding for a very long time tension related to the migrant crisis, confronted twice in one week only on election issues. First, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested against the recent statement of Turkey’s Minister of Labor and Social Security Mehmet Muezzinoglu. Bulgaria interpreted his statement as unacceptable support towards a given political party and interference in Bulgaria’s home affairs. Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry reminded that Turkey itself banned all types of political propaganda related to the forthcoming Parliamentary elections in Bulgaria. One day later, Ankara called on Bulgaria to cease its measures aimed at limiting political rights of the minorities. According to Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the fact that the number of polling stations is restricted to 35 in non-EU countries impedes the Bulgarian nationals in Tukey to cast their ballots at the elections. Following a series of violent disputes the Bulgarian political parties introduced that restriction last year, but Ankara did not react immediately. Apparently, Turkey’s sensitization on that issue is not only due to Sofia’s protest, but also to similar criticism expressed by Germany which intended to restrict political agitations of Turkish officials on its territory related to the forthcoming referendum in Turkey. Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Turkey to make sure such violations would not happen in the future. Thus, the two countries will be able to focus on more important topics in their bilateral relations. Bulgaria’s caretaker Premier Ognyan Gerdzhikov only called the agitation of Turkey’s Labor Minister inappropriate. However, Bulgaria has not abandoned the arguments of its protest and the country’s Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its stand after Turkey’s official response. The statement of Bulgaria’s caretaker cabinet that there are more important topics in the Bulgaria-Turkey bilateral relations is quite reasonable. However, a regular Bulgarian goverment should discuss those topics with Turkey after the early Parliamentary elections on March 26.
English version: Kostadin AtanasovThe coalition We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) , which came second in the October 27 parliamentary elections, has accepted an invitation for negotiations from the first political force - GERB-SDS. GERB leader Boyko Borissov offers..
A new party called Bulgaria Can (Bulgaria Mozhe) was founded today. Its leaders are the political and economics analyst Kuzman Iliev and the former MP from the Vazrazhdane party, Ivo Ruschev. The aim of the new party is to be an alternative for voters..
GERB leader Boyko Borissov has sent a letter to the We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition proposing a way out of the political crisis. The information was confirmed by BNR sources. Borissov has proposed that the leader of..
The members of parliament will continue their session at 10 AM on November 22, following yet another unsuccessful attempt to elect a Speaker of the..
A new party called Bulgaria Can (Bulgaria Mozhe) was founded today. Its leaders are the political and economics analyst Kuzman Iliev and the former MP..
GERB leader Boyko Borissov has sent a letter to the We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition proposing a way out of the political..
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