NEWS

Statement Made by Head of State Rosen Plevneliev at the Inauguration Ceremony of the President-elect of the Republic of Bulgaria

Esteemed President Radev,

Esteemed Mrs. Speaker of the National Assembly,

Esteemed Mr. Prime Minister,

Your Holiness,

Esteemed President Stoyanov,

Esteemed President Purvanov,

Esteemed Vice-president Popova,

Esteemed Vice-president Iotova,

Esteemed Mrs. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen Ministers, Assembly Deputies and MEPs,

Esteemed Representatives of the State Institutions and Political Parties,

Your Eminences, 

Esteemed Representatives of the Religious Communities in Bulgaria,

Your Excellencies,

Esteemed Generals, Admirals, Officers, Sergeants and Soldiers,

Dear Compatriots,

A very difficult, yet successful term in office is over.  I pursued the right course, I set the right priorities. I gave but did not take. I kept my promises. I have made mistakes as every human being but not as President, and I made no mistakes vis-a-vis the important issues. What matters in politics is not how you enter but how you leave – I am leaving holding my head up. The good thing about democracy is that there are mandates. I worked two years as minister and five years as President, and I was committed and dedicated to this country’s better future. Power for me was not an end in itself but a means to the end of being useful to your people. It was not strength but meaning I was after. I served the truth and identified the problems, I took a stance and took action – these things unite rather than divide. I was dedicated to society. I will continue being such in the future.

I knew that crises arise because someone has violated the rule of law. I knew that peace is endangered when someone places interests above principles. I knew that the right of the strong hand is the greatest lawlessness.  Therefore I struggled to ensure the rule of law and I opposed the strong-hand policy and the geopolitical reallocation of spheres of interest. I worked to ensure peace. And it depends on each one of us to ensure peace. Peace and democracy, human rights and freedoms should be defended on a daily basis and by everyone. Einstein said: “Peace cannot be kept by force, it can only be achieved by understanding.” Therefore we pursued a principled and balanced foreign policy. We were good friends with all countries in the region, a reliable partner in the EU and a strong ally of NATO. Today Bulgaria looks stable against the backdrop of the extreme instability around us and in the world.

Esteemed President Radev,

My term in office was difficult, and yours is likely to be difficult as well. However, power is not an end in itself, but a means to the end of being useful to your people. I wish you proudly shoulder your responsibility, I wish you to be a wise and successful president.

I wish you make the Presidential institution not a center of power, but a center of balance. I wish you open the Presidency’s door for different opinions, because dialogues and debates are the oxygen of democracy.

Remarque said:  “He who thinks he is flawless is ruthless.” I wish that you never make any big strategic mistake to Bulgaria's detriment. Not a single Bulgarian president has made such a mistake so far.

Work so as to ensure progress because the advancement of a nation is measured by the progress a society makes. The success of a country is measured not by the size of its territory is but by the success achieved by the ordinary person. Many Bulgarians have a difficult life and do not see any hope. Therefore it is important to work so as to ensure justice and progress, modernization and development, and promote more not less democracy and tolerance in society. The institutions should serve the citizens and not the powerful of the day. They should guarantee rules and justice for all.

We should not allow Bulgaria to stray from the path of democratic development or lose its worthy place in the European family. Let us all unite and work hard to achieve the national ideal pursued by the Apostle of freedom for a “pure and sacred Republic.” However, our Republic is as decent and sacred as its leaders are. Therefore, cherish the rule of law and place morality above everything else.

Esteemed President Radev,

I sincerely wish you a successful term in office and that you would pursue the course of Bulgaria's European and democratic development.

Good luck, Mr. President!

Long Live Bulgaria!