MRF in convulsions amid open war between Dogan and Peevski
One of the biggest fallouts in Bulgarian politics took place yesterday after the honorary chairman of pro-Turkish MRF Ahmed Dogan asked media mogul and Magnitsky-sanctioned Delyan Peevski to resign as chairman. But Peevski will not go quietly.
The conflict brewing for some time in the governing bodies of the MRF finally boiled over. The honorary leader of the movement, Ahmed Dogan, in a letter through the media, requested the resignation of operational co-chairman Peevski and four of his closest allies. Dogan stated that the MRF was witnessing "an attempt at an internal party coup, to take over and to use it for personal and business interests".
In response to this, Peevski has excluded those MPs who did not support the election of the Zhelyazkov cabinet (in line with Dogan's preference) from the parliamentary group. The decision was taken today with 25 votes in favour. Chairman Jevdet Chakarov is among those excluded.
Peevski has threatened all MPs who remained loyal to Dogan, Chakarov announced to journalists in parliament soon after his expulsion from the parliamentary group.
Radev's contract bankrupts Bulgargaz
Under the current financial conditions of the agreement between Bulgarian state gas supplier Bulgargaz and the Turkish BOTAS, the Bulgarian company is unable to continue fulfilling its financial commitments. "For this reason, the payments due for July have not been made," stated acting Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov who has already notified Turkey about the latest development.
The contract between Bulgargaz and BOTAS has been pilloried on account of the unhealthy relationship between both parties. The Bulgarian company has to pay exorbitant daily fees even when not using the Turkish network. It was President Rumen Radev who originally signed the contract.
Volgin to lead new European parliament party
MEP Petar Volgin from pro-Kremlin Vazrazhdane will become the spokesperson of the new group in the European Parliament called Europe of the Sovereign Nations, party leader Kostadin Kostadinov announced at a briefing in parliament. He announced that another MEP from Vazrazhdane, Stanislav Stoyanov, will be the vice-president.
According to Kostadinov, by the end of September, a European Sovereignist Party should be established under the name of the parliamentary group. He boasted that so far the only nomination for chairman of the future party is that of Stoyanov.
Vazrazhdane is joined by German AfD.
