The European Parliament discussed tonight, at the request of the group of the European People's Party (EPP), the case of the detention for 24 hours in March of the chairman of GERB Boyko Borisov

Boyko Metodiev Borisov is the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria. He was born on June 13, 1959, BTA reported.

The chairman of the EPP group, Manfred Weber, stated that Borisov was detained by the Bulgarian police without any charges being brought against him, without the intervention of a prosecutor and in the absence of a legal basis.

This was an illegal violation of the rule of law in Bulgaria and the EU, Weber added.

According to him, the journalists were invited to photograph Borisov for propaganda purposes.

"Two courts have condemned the actions of the government.

We strongly condemn these actions and support Borisov,'' announced Weber.

Scandal in the EP during the debates on the arrest of Borisov

MEP Jeroen Lennars (ENP) described the detention of Borisov as scandalous and illegal.

Tsvetelina Penkova (BSP) on behalf of the Socialists and Democrats (SD) noted that today's discussion was convened in the EP three weeks before the early elections in Bulgaria.

The assessment of today's debate is unequivocal - abuse by the EPP and GERB of the authority and powers of the EP.

This is an unacceptable attempt to suggest and interfere in political processes, she summarized.

Ilhan Kyuchuk (DPS) on behalf of the "Renew Europe" group said that the abuse of law did not start with this case.

"Violation of the Constitution and laws has become the norm in recent months," added Kyucyuk and spoke of cases related to complaints against the activities of the police in our country during the last elections.

The EPP calls on the EC to publicly condemn the actions of Kiril Petkov's government due to the illegal arrest of Borisov

Gunar Bek (Identity and Democracy) pointed out that Borisov was detained on suspicion of corruption, but the prosecutor's office and the court considered that there was not enough evidence.

He asked why no procedure was initiated against Bulgaria under Art.

7 of the EU Treaty, as was done with regard to Hungary and Poland. 

Claire Daly (Lefts) noted that the EPP was not interested in the rule of law in Bulgaria until the change of government (of GERB).

"Bulgaria's problems with the rule of law and corruption have not disappeared," she added.

Daly defined as an attempt at political maneuvers that the issue with Borisov is being discussed by the EP in order to exert influence before the upcoming new early parliamentary elections in our country in favor of GERB.

"This is a pity", she commented and expressed the expectation that the EPP will check the data presented by Vasil Bozhkov about bribes for Borisov's government.

Andrey Kovachev (GERB/EPP) asked if it was a coincidence that Borissov was detained on the day he expressed support for sending military equipment to Ukraine.

According to him, former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov tarnished the name of the European Public Prosecutor's Office by interfering in the Borisov case.

Petkov's government pursued the most pro-Russian, pro-Kremlin policy in Bulgaria, Kovachev said.

Juan Aguilar (SD) expressed hope that if an irregularity was committed in this case, it will be reported by the Bulgarian institutions.

Interior Minister Demerdzhiev on the arrest of Borisov: I would not do that

Ramona Strugariu ("Renew Europe") pointed out that MEPs are discussing Borissov, while in 2020 the EP adopted a resolution on Bulgaria and it says that abuses of European funds in the country are multiplying and some of the doubts about some of the cases concern the Prime Minister .

"Borisov was in power then," she recalled.

Ivo Hristov (BSP/SD) stated that 18 days before the parliamentary elections in Bulgaria, the EP helpfully organized a debate on a case that had long been closed by the Bulgarian court.

The rights of the arrested GERB leader were recognized and protected.

This is not the case with the rights of the millions of Bulgarian citizens harmed by corruption and lawlessness, he added.

Emil Radev (GERB/EPP) insisted with categorical intolerance on all institutional levels and society to oppose the police and arbitrariness.

Andrey Novakov (GERB/ENP) commented that the outcome of the case with Borisov showed that Bulgaria is a country governed by the rule of law.

According to Novakov, Borisov "paid a price" for supporting Ukraine and condemning Russia.

European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders said that the European Commission has no role to interfere in investigations in individual countries and that is the job of national authorities, while respecting the rights of the accused.

The Bulgarian court found a violation of the law in this case and issued a decision to revoke the detention order, Reinders explained.

He noted that the Bulgarian authorities have promised the EC to take measures for accountability of the chief prosecutor and for supervision over the prosecutor's refusals to open an investigation in order to gain access to EU funds.

The European Commissioner recalled the evaluations of the latest report of the commission on the rule of law, in which recommendations were made related to the independence of magistrates and noted the lack of final verdicts against corruption at high administrative levels in our country.

Boyko Borisov