We have witnessed a serious collision between big business in Bulgaria and the Ministry of Interior during the week. After the murder of Alexander Antonov, owner of one of the largest companies in Bulgarian fashion business - Agressia, the influential Confederation of Employers and Industrialists, followed by the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association, came up with an ultimatum aimed at Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova. In the letter they demanded that the killers must be arrested in the shortest time possible or otherwise they would demand the resignation of Prime Minister Buchvarova. The Ministry of Interior was accused of not doing its job, for which society pays more than 500 million euro annually.
This sharp reaction of the business angered the government, which has been becoming more intolerant recently against what they call unjustified claims coming from the business community. Minister Buchvarova saw a conspiracy against national interests, while other senior officials said that not everything in big Bulgarian business was legitimate and transparent, so it had no right to demand special protection. Prime Minister Boyko Borissov started speaking about "professionalism" and "competence," apparently referring to his view that criticism was not justified and arguments were unconvincing. There are competent people who take care of the Interior Ministry and you should watch your business instead, said the Prime Minister, who is also a former senior police officer.
“I am the head of this Ministry and it is enough already…,” emotional Buchvarova said in parliament referring to the big number of recent accusations against the police over incompetence and mismanagement, as well as claims that it just wanted more money.
A number of analysts have pointed out that the well-grounded but sharp ultimatum of the business comes at the backdrop of almost unanimous opinion that nothing positive has been happening in the Interior Ministry and that the results of its work are close to zero. Perhaps exactly because of failed reforms Buchvarova is so nervous and loses her temper during speeches, in which emotions often prevail over arguments. But it is exactly emotions that are most harmful when you need to make radical and urgent reforms.
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