As Bulgaria’s President, Rumen Radev, shifts away from supporting the opposition and – at the same time – challenges the Prime Minister, experts see this as a sign that he wants to show that he is a political force to be reckoned with.
However, they add that while Radev may have gained some political experience during the first two years of his mandate, his ideological and political positions remain unclear.
Nevertheless, his ambitions, which are already stirring political tensions, may have an even greater impact on Bulgaria if he forms his own party, which seems to be his direction, pundits add.
Ever since Boyko Borissov’s ruling GERB party lost the 2016 presidential election to the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party’s candidate, an ex-air force Commander General, the two men have been at odds.
As Radev gradually builds up his political experience, and as the GERB-United Patriots coalition suffers from involvement in more and more scandals, almost daily exchanges of fire have taken place between Bul. Dondukov, 1 – the address of the Council of Ministers – and Bul. Dondukov, 2 – the office of the President.
Analysts say the tension brewing between the two institutions is mainly caused by Radev’s own attempts to present himself as an alternative authority to Prime Minister Borissov, and by his long-term goals to establish himself as a new central political figure.
Battle lines are being drawn:
The ruling coalition has given Radev plenty of ammunition and targets for his political attacks recently.
At the beginning of this week, Radev created a standoff with the government when he refused to relieve the acting Secretary General of the Interior Ministry, Mladen Marinov, from his duties, so that he could be voted in as the Interior Minister.
Radev insisted that the Council of Ministers formally propose Marinov’s dismissal first.
The leader of the GERB group in parliament, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, accused Radev of “seeking a provocation.”
The President on Tuesday responded that he was not initiating a political war but just following the law. “It appears that the government finds it impossible to adhere to the law, and this is not the first time this has happened,” Radev said, sarcastically.
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