International liberals unanimously expressed support for MRF's Honorary Chairman Ahmed Dogan

Liberals from around the world express support for Dr Ahmed Dogan, who is the Honorary Chairman of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) and its founder and call for a solution to the situation in the MRF, said the office of MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk, elected on the MRF list, who is also co-chair of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. In a series of letters, MRF's long-standing partners from around the world stand behind the leadership of the party's founder.

Liberal International President Hakima el Haite, Roman Jakic, coordinator of the Liberal Southeast Europe Network (LIBSEEN) and Sir Graham Watson, a longtime leader of European liberals, sent letters addressed to the MRF Honorary Chairman and members of the party's operational leadership, stressing their unwavering support for Ahmed Dogan and calling for the situation within the ranks of the MRF to be addressed, the press release said.

"We resolutely and together continue to give our support to you and the MRF to resist any attacks on your political and personal integrity," the letter from Hakima el Haite said.

"Over the years, the MRF has proven to be the party of inclusiveness and stability. It has served as a unifying force and an example internationally, guided by the vision of its honorary president, the MRF is on a truly pro-European and pro-NATO course," wrote Roman Jakic, coordinator of LIBSEEN.

He hopes that the MRF will be able to tackle this problematic situation with the wisdom and pro-European attitude befitting the legacy of its founders, which the party has always carried.

Long-time European Liberal leader Sir Graham Watson expresses concern at what is happening in the party and in his letter to Ahmed Dogan states:

"Sadly, I have witnessed on more than one occasion how individual selfishness has driven the MRF away from the founding principles of unity and collective action for individual freedoms, causing you to return again and again to fight to uphold the principles of the party."

The addressees define the situation in the MRF as unacceptable and are unanimous that they will continue to promote the importance of the unique ethnic model based on tolerance and respect and ensure that Bulgaria will remain permanently established in the Euro-Atlantic and democratic family of developed nations, the office of MEP Kyuchyuk further said.

Last week, Parliament did not approve the nomination of Rosen Zhelyazkov for Prime Minister by GERB-UDF, as some of MRF's MPs voted against. Before the voting took place, Ramadan Atalay, who was later expelled from the MRF's parliamentary group, said there is a rift in the relations between MRF Chairman Delyan Peevski and Ahmed Dogan.

Even though Ahmed Dogan had advised his party's parliamentary group not to support the GERB-UDF cabinet proposal, 30 of the 45 MRF MPs on Wednesday voted in favour of Rosen Zhelyazkov's nomination for Prime Minister, only 14 were against, and one abstained. Peevski's desire, on the other hand, was for the MRF to support Zhelyazkov's draft cabinet.

On Saturday, MRF’s honorary chairman Ahmed Dogan met with MRF members, including the other MRF Chairman, Dzhevdet Chakarov, as well as some of the MPs who voted against the election of Rosen Zhelyazkov as Prime Minister. The meeting was held at Dogan's property in Rosenets Park on the Black Sea coast. Dzhevdet Chakarov commented after the meeting that the MRF is not functioning normally and should return to normality.

There is no conflict between Dogan and Peevski and there cannot be one, MRF Chairman Delyan Peevski said a day later. He stressed that that there is one thing he will not accept, allow or overlook: "no one, regardless of their motive, ambition, personal or group egoism, has the right to set me against the Honorary Chairman of MRF, Dr Ahmed Dogan."