Another clash between President Radev and the government over the war in Ukraine

A new clash between the President and the government over the war in Ukraine. The head of state pointed out that the issue of Ukraine is being exploited by the government apparently as a lifeline. They responded to him that he was creating tension in society and positioning himself on the side of the aggressor.

President Rumen Radev harshly criticised the government.

"I would like to call on the ruling coalition to finally address the Bulgarian agenda and the problems of the Bulgarians, because apparently the issue of Ukraine is being exploited by the government as a lifeline to distract people from the fact that they have no vision, no programme and no real action in response to the problems facing the country and the people," he told journalists in Sarafovo on July 18.

Radev said hiding behind Ukraine could work, but for a while.

"Because the problems are piling up and people are waiting for answers. And the problem is that by hiding behind Ukraine, the ruling coalition is increasingly retreating from a number of important European values - rule of law must be upheld, not its violation; the fight against corruption, not its protection; transparency, not backstage politics; freedom of speech, not censorship; raising the standard and quality of life of the people; not robbing them, and very importantly - accountability to the voters, not deceiving them."

Comments from the power-sharing partners were not delayed.

Daniel Mitov - MP from GERB-UDF group: “Mr Radev has recently been saying things that have no logic in them and he is one of the people who have radicalised public opinion. He may think that he is balancing, but he is creating tension in society and dividing it.”

Vasil Stefanov - MP from “We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria”: “Supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression is precisely defending and protecting European values. And by entering into Putin's rhetoric, President Radev is positioning himself precisely on the side of the aggressor.”

Referring to the planned protest in front of the Presidency over Radev's words that Ukraine insists on carrying on this war, the President said that Bulgaria is a democratic country and everyone has the right to protest, but the question is whether the protests should lead to some result.

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Speaking to journalists on July 14 at the opening of the 2023 Rozhen National Folklore Fair and commenting on the NATO Leaders Summit held in Vilnius, President Rumen Radev said that Ukraine insists on continuing to wage this war, but the bill is paid by the whole of Europe.

"Unfortunately, in such critical times the Bulgarian government does not have thinking of its own, does not have its own opinions and positions," Radev said and added that the Bulgarian government started changing their position only after ‘big’ NATO member states declared that Ukraine’s accelerated accession to NATO is unacceptable.

“The UK Defence minister said a few days ago that the UK cannot be a warehouse for the armed forces of Ukraine. Should we wait for other defence ministers to say so too, so that our government can stop seeing the Bulgarian armed forces as a warehouse for the armed forces of a foreign army,” the President said.

“The government is frantically trying to convince us that by sending military aid it is increasing our security. On the contrary, this conflict is deepening, the victims are becoming more and more. The more weapons it absorbs, the more dead people and destruction, the greater the risk, the more this war will drag on. Ukraine insists on continuing this war, the bill is being paid by all of Europe. This war has many dimensions, not only military, but also economic, social and political. It is a threat and a risk for the whole of Europe," Rumen Radev further said.