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Mariya Gabriel: I will not sign the so-called memorandum

Photo: BGNES

After a meeting with EU and US ambassadors, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel said at a briefing at the Foreign Ministry that she would not sign the memorandum proposed by We Continue the Change/Democratic Bulgaria (PP/DB) on the shared governance of the country. In the words of the only minister nominated by GERB/SDS, the document proposed by the current partners in the government is in contradiction with the constitution.

 ‘’Everything has limits. Mine are that I do not accept the country to be governed in total disregard of the fundamental principles of democracy'', Mariya Gabriel said. Deputy Premier Gabriel added that she had informed the ambassadors of the EU countries and the United States about her decision and noted that she was against the idea of speaking with two voices as regards the foreign policy. 

"I would like to emphasize that for me foreign policy is based on national interests and national priorities and Bulgaria should speak with one voice," Mariya Gabriel went on to say. In her words, the memorandum leaves the impression that Bulgaria will be divided between two coalitions and that independent regulators, the judiciary, the services and supervisory bodies will be divided between the coalitions in violation of state legislation at the expense of personal agendas and partisan interests. Mariya Gabriel described the document proposed by PP/DB as an ultimatum and an attempt to change laws according to party interests. "It is an attempt at political bargaining, hidden behind slogans about adhering to principles", said Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriel. 

According to her, this is sabotaging the negotiation process and is a manifestation of everything else but a desire to continue the joint governance.''Moreover, the proposed changes in the services coincide with the European Parliament elections and there are no arguments whether these changes will not jeopardize national security'', Mariya Gabriel further pointed out. 

Yesterday, We Continue the Change/Democratic Bulgaria drafted a memorandum which they want to be transformed into an agreement of governance of the country, and want it to be signed by GERB/SDS. According to We Continue the Change co-chair Kiril Petkov, the document will be public and if it is not approved by GERB/SDS, then PP/DB would be prepared to go to the polls in an early election simultaneously with the election for European Parliament. The deepening disagreement within the ruling non-coalition precede the expected rotation of prime ministers in March, which PP/DB and GERB/SDS agreed upon when forming the current government.




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