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 AtanasovNearly a month after the 27 October early parliamentary elections, the 51st National Assembly is still not able to begin its work because MPs are unable to elect their first among equals. Bulgaria's political impasse is compounded by burning concerns..
DPS-New Beginning MP Yordan Tsonev said in an interview with BNT that no one has requested support from their party for the election of National Assembly Speaker. Yordan Tsonev criticized We Continue the Change- Democratic Bulgaria for violating a..
''If the Constitution is not amended, there is no point in holding another election under the same rules and with the same bought, controlled and corporate vote'', the co-chairman of the parliamentary group of BSP-United Left Borislav Gutsanov said in..
At today's session of MEPs opening in Strasbourg, the European Parliament will again call for full membership of Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen . The..
The members of Parliament are rather skeptical before yet another attempt to elect a National Assembly Speaker. The candidates for Speaker of the..
+359 2 9336 661