NEWS

President Rumen Radev: The Caretaker Government Has the Ambition of Being a Cabinet of Democratic Unity

Rumen Radev:

Dear Madam Vice President,

Dear Secretaries and Advisers,

Dear Media Representatives,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

After exhausting the capabilities set in the Constitution for forming a government of the parties in the 45^th National Assembly, by virtue of Decree 129, of this day I am appointing a caretaker government. The caretaker government will govern Bulgaria until the formation of a new, regular government, which, I hope, will be appointed by the next 46^th National Assembly after holding the elections set for the 11^th of July. The forty-fifth Parliament was marked by many emotions and, although brief, its life was not in vain, as it will remain as a dramatic milestone in our society’s escape from authoritarianism and corruption. People put their hopes in it, long oppressed opinions were heard, the spirit of parliamentarism and free speech was revived, the omerta which the compromised government model depended on cracked. However, this Parliament did not bring to fruition people’s expectations of a new government, based on the stable foundations of decency and law and this should serve as a lesson to all parties on the eve of the new campaign.

Although a caretaker one, the cabinet I appoint today has the ambition of being a cabinet of democratic unity with people from the left, centre and right politically neutral professionals, proven administrators and experts, free entrepreneurs and spokespeople of public discontent, and figures  from academia. It proves what was unfortunately not achieved during the 45^th National Assembly: that it is possible for democrats of different colours to overcome age-old differences and the red lines between them, joining around the cause for a free and fair Bulgaria. Furthermore, I remain certain that our future as a people depends on our capacity of uniting around decency, law and patriotism. I believe the democratic unity of people on different horizons will lead us along the path to a democratic, dignified and prosperous Bulgaria.

Difficult months are ahead of us, a cumbersome heritage and, of course, a strengthened resistance against the forces of the status quo. In the current condition, this caretaker government faces important tasks:

-        Guaranteeing the normal functioning of the state;

-        Providing for fair elections, waging war against vote buying;

-        Uncovering as much as possible within the 2-month period the true picture of the condition of the state;

-        And most importantly – making the first step towards strengthening statehood, giving Bulgarians the confidence that the country can be governed decently, transparently and responsibly.

The former government emptied the coffers with controversial projects and indiscriminate pre-election expenditures. It abdicated from responsibility and did not submit a budget update to Parliament. It left pensioners, medics and business without financial support in the toughest of times.

Dear Ministers, you will have to put all your efforts into proving that caring for people is the top priority of any government. You will have to overcome the consequences of the pandemic, to bring order to the chaos in vaccination, to make the difficult decision on the Recovery and Resilience Plan. It was entirely developed in a setting of secrecy, without clear public criteria, by the previous government, which refused to submit it to European institutions. Without neglecting the work of experts proven in numerous teams under any circumstances, you will have to compare the criteria and indictors under European requirements to the ones proposed so far. You will have very limited time to also take into account multiple rational proposals on the plan, including from the Presidential institution.

Allow me to remind you we have submitted five concrete projects based on clear principles and priorities for investment in human capital, for maximum coverage of people, for investment in leading world-renowned technologies, for digitalisation and innovations, for protecting Bulgarian nature, for a transparent, responsible and effective government. I will just reiterate a few of these projects. They concern problems identified long ago and in need of a solution for our society:

-        Complete country-wide helicopter emergency medical service;

-        Innovative and technologically promising autonomous energy projects;

-        Wide-range early prevention and diagnosis for the Bulgarian population;

-        Wonderful conditions for training our children in new leading technologies, digitalisation and innovative methods;

-        New technological and organisational solutions for effective coordinated surveillance, monitoring and managing of the environment and natural resources, and protecting them. Disaster, accident and calamity management. Effective agricultural management, control over indiscriminate tree felling and construction in conservation areas.

Thus, a transparent and effective government. Unfortunately, these projects have been neglected by those in power until now and I hope you will have a more responsible attitude. Not least, because among you are the people with whom we worked on them.

I would like to congratulate you on your courage to bear responsibility in this extremely complex condition. I believe in the support of the Bulgarian society, which has showed that it does not want to live as before.

In this situation, governing the state requires leadership, professionalism and dedication. This is why my choice fell on the people in front of you.

The Caretaker Prime Minister will be Mr. Stefan Yanev, Security and Defence Secretary at the Presidency. In the previous caretaker government that I appointed he was also responsible for organising the elections. A Bulgarian general, a worthy officer and diplomat with important missions and tasks within the Ministry of Defence and abroad – in Brussels, Ankara and Washington. He graduated from the National Defense University in the US.

I appoint Mr. Galab Donev, Social Policy and Healthcare Secretary of the President, as Deputy Prime Minister, responsible for Social and Economic Policies. A former caretaker minister in the previous caretaker government with experience and expertise in the field of social policy.

Mr. Boyko Rashkov – Deputy Prime Minister for Public Order and Security and Minister of Foreign Affairs at the caretaker government. Member of Parliament in the 39^th National Assembly, a proven long-time lawyer with proven practice, who has also held several leadership positions – director of the National Investigation Service, head of the Special Intelligence Means Control Bureau, deputy Minister of justice and an active lecturer, a member of my Legal Council.

Deputy Prime Minister for Managing European Funds – Atanas Pekanov, member of my Strategic Council. An economist to the Austrian Institute of Economic Research, tutor at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, with prestigious education, who has also worked for the European Central Bank.

Mr. Stoycho Katsarov will be Caretaker Minister of Health – with extensive administrative experience – Deputy Minister of health, a proven expert with a clear understanding of the necessary actions to be urgently undertaken in our healthcare.

Mr. Assen Vassilev as Caretaker Minister of Finance. From the German Language School in Haskovo to the top 2% of Harvard. He has participated in and led several international projects and companies, has a business in the field of finance, and is co-founder and director of the Centre for Economic Strategy and Competitiveness.

Associate Professor Violeta Komitova as Caretaker Minister of Regional Development and Public Works. A proven professor, architect, deputy minister in my previous caretaker government.

Professor Nikolay Denkov, also Minister of Education and Science in my previous caretaker government, among the top 2% in the global ranking of scientists with numerous scientific publications and lecturing activities in prestigious world-renowned universities.

Mr. Svetlan Stoev as Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs – a career diplomat, former Ambassador to Sweden, current Ambassador to Denmark, former chief of state protocol with proven experience and expertise in organising elections abroad.

Mr. Yanaki Stoilov – Member of Parliament in several National Assemblies, one of the fathers of the contemporary Bulgarian Constitution, a lawyer with renowned expertise, professor at Sofia University.

Mr. Velislav Minekov as Caretaker Minister of Culture – a sculptor, public figure and professor at the National Academy of Art, and not only there, but at numerous prestigious educational institutions abroad.

Mr. Assen Lichev as Caretaker Minister of Environment and Waters – with undisputed expertise, experience and dedication for many years in this Ministry.

Mr. Georgi Panayotov – Minister of Defence, career diplomat, who graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, until recently our Permanent Representative to the United Nations with diplomatic experience in various capitals: Tirana, Kabul and Washington. He has many years of experience as chief of the NATO Department to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Professor Hristo Bozukov takes the same position as he did in my previous caretaker government – Caretaker Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. He has both proven scientific and professional expertise, as well as administrative experience.

Mr. Georgi Todorov, with many years of experience and expertise in the Ministry of Transport and Caretaker Deputy Minister during my caretaker government in the same ministry as Caretaker Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications.

Mr. Kiril Petkov, among Harvard’s top 10%, a renowned public figure, businessman and entrepreneur with an entirely export-oriented business, not dependent on public tenders, co-founder and director of the Centre for Economic Strategy and Competitiveness – as Caretaker Minister of Economy.

Mr. Andrey Jivkov as Caretaker Minister of Energy, also with many years of experience, proven leadership skills in the Ministry of Energy and in private business.

Ms. Stela Baltova – Caretaker Minister of Tourism, Professor Baltova also held this position in my previous caretaker government.

Mr. Andrey Kuzmanov as Caretaker Minister of Youth and Sports, a famed and prominent competitor and head of federation, since recently also Chair of the European Confederation of Modern Pentathlon.

Stefan Yanev:

Dear Mr. President,

Dear Madam Vice President,

Dear Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for your trust. To be the Caretaker Prime Minister is a great honour, but also a huge responsibility. I am a man who does not give any empty promises, but I pledge, with all my reputation and my lifetime experience built over years as a guarantee, that I will work with dignity in the interest of society and to enact rule of law.

I will also expect this from the caretaker ministers appointed by the President. We will work together for citizens and work in favour of citizens. Naturally, as set in the Constitution, our main priority will be organising and holding free, fair and democratic elections, strictly abiding by the legal regulations. In this relation, I expect all institutions to work in a synchronised manner and for us to be absolutely uncompromising regarding any attempt at election fraud.

The timeframe for work of the caretaker government is very brief. I cannot promise to manage to solve all the problems accumulated over the years in this limited time period. The only thing I can say is I will do my best, and so will my colleagues, for this process of problem solving to begin.

A fair and responsible governance of the caretaker cabinet may restore at least partially the lost trust in institutions.

I will insist that the cabinet, all my colleagues and all institutions work in full transparency and accountability before the citizens and in their interest.

We will do everything necessary for us to have more effective political communication, which I believe the society expects – precisely for a more meaningful and adequate political discourse and action.

The global pandemic has caused a combined health, economic and social crisis worldwide and Bulgaria is no exception. The only way to overcome such crises is for the nation to be united.

Only with joint efforts can real results be achieved.

In this relation, I will work for us to extend a hand to, and renew the dialogue with, Bulgarian business, including regarding small and medium enterprises, which are significantly affected by the Covid pandemic. Precisely the small and medium companies and enterprises are the main employer and provide the livelihoods of thousands of Bulgarian families. I extend my well-deserved gratitude to everybody in the health sector, to all who have been putting intensive efforts into managing the crisis and in helping Bulgarian patients. Along with the healthcare guild, I would also like to thank Bulgarian teachers, as health and education are the main values of a developed society.

Dear Mr. President,

Dear Madam Vice President,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The most important emphasis for me is on upholding the rule of law. My colleagues and I unite around the motto we will propose as the motto of our cabinet, namely “Decency, Transparency and Professionalism.” We will work decently while abiding by all laws in the interest of Bulgarian citizens, for our Bulgaria.