We have established a new type of policy that excludes running away from responsibility and I hope that more Bulgarian politicians will infected by this example, said President Rosen Plevneliev, who along with Vice President Margarita Popova gave a presentation on the activities of the presidential couple since the inauguration.
The Presidency, not only in the first 100 days, but in the future will continue to be led by the spirit of the constitution. “We will defend the independence and neutrality of the Presidential institution and will not divide, will not be an obstacle, we will unite, we will seek consensus and unity on national priorities and Bulgaria’s key positions,” the President emphasised to the media.
The President reported on the introduction of clear rules and transparency in the work of the Presidential Administration. The Presidential team has been formed and has started work within the President’s councils. Two of them have held their first meetings, which were transmitted live on the internet. The six President’s councils work publicly, according to a schedule and clear rules. Also formed within the established rules were committees that provide expert counsel to the President and the Vice President in the exercise of their powers. Currently, those are the Commission of Pardons, Commission on Asylum, Commission on the Remission of Uncollectible State Debts and the Commission on the Naming of Objects of National Importance and Settlements. The Commission on the Granting of Bulgarian Citizenship is to be formed, Vice President Popova said.
The very first meeting of the Presidential Council agreed on six national priorities that should be enshrined in the Bulgaria 2020 National Development Strategy, President Plevneliev said. These are transport infrastructure, energy infrastructure, technical infrastructure, energy efficiency and diversification of the energy strategy of Bulgaria, e-government, balanced urban development, innovation and competitiveness.
The Head of State reported on the very successful initiative, the “month of political consultations” which will be held every year. “The parties set national responsibilities, set priorities, and those on which consensus was reached were included in my address to the National Assembly. Now, I expect the parties and the executive to take active steps to implement these common goals,” the President said.
Rosen Plevneliev highlighted the nationally responsible behaviour in the first meeting of the Consultative Council on National Security, and described the results as an “outstanding success”. For the first time in the existence of the Consultative Council on National Security, its own rules have been developed, and are soon to be adopted. Meetings of the Council will be convened regularly, as the law requires, the President underlined.
In the past 1000 days, more than 60 meetings with representatives of more than 20 countries all diplomatic levels were held at the Presidency, the President said.