Bulgaria’s President and Vice-President give an overview of third year in office

Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev and Vice-President Iliyana Yotova on January 28 gave an overview of their third year in office.

"In this third year, we continued our responsible mission with consistency in principles and actions. The presidential institution continued to uphold the rule of law and the interest of citizens, to stimulate debate between institutions and citizens, to uphold the Bulgarian interest outside," the President said.

He covered the most important activities so far and said he would focus primarily on the priorities at the moment.

"The Presidential Institution is increasingly confident in setting the political agenda, with the latest example being the improvements of the electoral legislation and the open ambition of the Bulgarian Parliament to get ahead of the President's long-announced initiative. For the first time, the Parliament started the activities on improving electoral legislation not in the eve of upcoming elections, but when necessary.

Throughout the year, I maintained an active dialogue with citizens and institutions, highlighting problems and providing guidance for their solution, for transformation into a country with functioning institutions and high quality of life. Upholding the rule of law and strengthening statehood was one of my top priorities and activities throughout the year. Although the Consultative Council for National Security, convened by me in April for real measures against corruption, did not reach consensus, my findings and proposals became more and more relevant, I continued to be a barrier against lobbying legislation and against decisions that are contrary to the public interest.

I vetoed 7 laws and where I saw violations of the constitution, I referred to the Constitutional Court. Although these vetoes were rejected by the Parliament, sometimes even without debate, the public reaction and decisions of the Constitutional Court confirm the validity of my actions. A series of meetings on the selection of Chief Prosecutor and the enhancement of the independence and efficiency of the judiciary highlighted problems and possible solutions. Debates are also underway to initiate changes to the Constitution after 30 years of transition and deep turmoil in public-political life. Overcoming poverty and inequalities through high sustainable economic growth has been at the heart of my dialogue with employers and industry organizations, investors and trade unions."

Radev also highlighted the numerous meetings he had with professors, students, leaders of Olympic teams, start-ups, as well as initiatives to support science, education and innovation. He cited the success of the memorandum initiated by the presidential institution between all countries participating in the project to create an international institute for sustainable technologies in Eastern Europe.

He also emphasized the initiative for meetings of innovative start-ups with foreign businesses.

He also referred to the development of the armed forces as a priority. He gave as an example the contract signed for the acquisition of the new fighter aircraft, the re-established Air Force High School. He also highlighted the active work in the Three Seas initiative to improve connectivity in Eastern Europe and to involve Bulgaria in priority transport projects.

Radev said he would continue to point out institutions and decisions that generate conditions for corruption. It will continue to assist, by all means, for the anti-corruption commison to become an effective body with active mechanisms and tools for identifying income/expenses discrepancies. It will push for the introduction of e-governance as a factor for increasing transparency. Regarding national security, he said he will continue to work on defence development, enhancing social status and motivation. In the area of foreign policy, he will continue to work to turn it into a guarantor of national security, to attract foreign institutions, to protect the rights of the Bulgarian community abroad.

Working with Bulgarians abroad is a constant topic on our agenda, Vice-President Iliana Yotova said during a press conference to report on the third year of her term in office.

Continuous contact is maintained with more than 150 companies of Bulgarians in 33 countries, with individual Bulgarians who contribute to promoting Bulgaria's fame and prestige abroad, she said.

2020 should be a year of unity of Bulgarians in Bulgaria and with our compatriots abroad, she stressed.

She said that a number of successes had been achieved with respect to all students from the Bulgarian diaspora in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Ukraine and Serbia. They are exempted from tuition fees, will be given a stipend of BGN 240 in the first year of their studies, and their documents will be submitted online.

Last year, the study of Bulgarian language in the province of Argentina was resumed, Yotova said. The Bulgarian language class was reopened at the Pavlodar school in Kazakhstan, where the largest Bulgarian community is. In California, too, the Bulgarian language has entered the bilingual programme and a certificate will be issued.

All this motivates me to propose the establishment of an Association of Bulgarian Communities in the World, she noted.

Communication within the Association will be through a dedicated platform whose pilot project is to be created.

There is no Europe of equals when there is a double standard. Thr rejection to admit Bulgaria in the Schengen area is an emblem of that double standard," Yotova added.