We have one goal – a just and prosperous Bulgaria
– Ms. Yotova, what is your balance sheet for the past term, are you satisfied with what has been done and what motivates you for a second term?
– Everyone still has work to do. There is often not enough time. Yes, I am satisfied. President Rumen Radev and I formed a strong team. We interact well. Not only because of the powers set out in the Constitution, but also because of trust, common goals, common virtues. We have shown that the presidential institution is not a protocol, we have restored its authority, significance and influence. Rosen Plevneliev reports to the Council of Ministers and personally to Boyko Borissov. Do you remember that, according to his leader, he was president to warm his place? This means trampling on the Constitution and its spirit of separation and mutual control of power. In 2016, we promised that it would be the voice of Bulgarian citizens. We do not conclude deals with ministers, deputies, with those in power. We promised that we would break the monopoly of the party-state GERB and they are no longer in power. Together with all Bulgarians who no longer seek corruption, we managed to erode our society, to spread lawlessness. We declared ourselves a powerful alternative to the government, which translated the page through Borissov’s crises and hereditary statehood. We want Bulgaria to be an active participant in European policies, not a country on the periphery.
– At the expense of your predecessors, it seems that you have created a good team with the President and are acting synchronously …
– Yes, that’s right. Each of us is a character, I dare say, a strong character. With different professional training, with different points of view, but also with respect for the opinion of the other. The most important thing is that I have one goal – a just and prosperous Bulgaria. Bulgaria, in which we, its citizens, Bulgarians, have the confidence that we are shifts, not subjects, in which you want to switch Borissov.
– One of your powers as vice president is registered with the work with Bulgarians abroad, probably there are difficulties?
– We work not for, but with all Bulgarians around the world for Bulgaria. My great goal is to preserve and develop the historical communities, Bulgarians by origin, who moved several centuries ago, even during slavery. Those who were forcibly separated from their homeland after the wars and national catastrophes befell our homeland. Even today they are subject to assimilation, to melting. That is why I was with them in Ukraine, Moldova, Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Kazakhstan. To preserve the Bulgarian language, the Bulgarian identity, the Bulgarian traditions, the schools with teaching in the Bulgarian language. There is already a recognized Bulgarian minority in Albania, and we need to further strengthen our contacts with them. We managed to keep the territorial bank of the Bolgrad region, but there is still no Bulgarian school in Odessa, unfortunately. These are good examples of interaction between all authorities in the country.
– Have you established contacts with the newer emigration?
– We have already established a network with the Bulgarian communities from Europe, Latin and North America, from Asia. With the Bulgarian heirs even from the distant province of Chaco in Argentina, whose traditions date back to the end of the 19th century. With the Bulgarian schools, with the cultural societies. There is no understanding in the GERB government for serious attention to the huge number of Bulgarians abroad. They did not want us to make a policy for their status, for an institutional connection with the homeland. We keep going ahead. The policy for our compatriots abroad has not been on the agenda at all for at least 20 years, and official statistics over 1.3 million people have left the site in recent years, unofficially there are about 3 million Bulgarians.
– The proposed opportunities of the Cultural Institute of Bulgaria. How far have you come?
– We started working for the Bulgarian Cultural Institute, similar to Cervantes, Goethe Institute and others. We talked to over 100 Bulgarian intellectuals, directors, poets, artists, writers and others. They stood behind this idea, driven by the belief that Bulgaria should expand its cultural diplomacy. We are one of the oldest countries in Europe, creators of writing, of Slavic civilization. You need to expand your influence, because there is an attempt to rewrite history and to neglect the role of the Bulgarian state.
We have developed different options for the status of the institute. I held talks with ministers from the then Borissov government. Unfortunately, no one has found the time, or perhaps the desire, to move this idea to parliament. It makes sense to create such an institute only if there is a special law to protect it, so that no one can go lightly. Many people have told me that this is an issue that needs to be addressed personally by Mr Borissov. But it has nothing to do with culture and spirituality, so I have zero result. I very much hope that after November 14 there will be a stable political majority in the National Assembly and an executive branch of literate people who care about Bulgarianness and Bulgarian culture. We will provide them with the options we have developed for both the status and the activities of this cultural center.
– It’s November 1st, who are the new awakeners? Or do we rely only on the old ones?
– There is no way to go back to the past and not remember where we traded. Next year will mark the 300th anniversary of the birth of the greatest Bulgarian awakener Paisii Hilendarski. With its little book, this not only woke the people, but it is in the formation of the Bulgarian nation and the Bulgarian Revival. They still have awakeners today – teachers, lecturers, teachers. All people who value the Bulgarian language, Bulgarian culture and literature, Bulgarian sovereignty. Unfortunately, culture always stays somewhere on the periphery. It is not fair to talk about our spiritual and cultural development only on holidays. We lost the lecturer in the leading universities in the world, where from helplessness, illiteracy, lack of attention, desire, interest … We can do much more for secondary education, for the spread of the Bulgarian language. We have a lot of work to do, with worthy Bulgarians, politicians, managers to defend the Bulgarian.
– Why does the race for “Dondukov” 2 look like all the other candidates against you and Mr. Radev?
– Borissov knows very well who will remain impossible in power. This is undoubtedly Rumen Radev. And we are not alone. We have many allies. The role of the BSP, which is the only opposition in the “Borisov” decade, is also big. GERB wants the presidential power to return to the white horse and regain control of the state with their schemes, dependence and oligarchy, with corruption and lawlessness, which turn into politics.
Another severe pandemic is raging in Bulgaria – inequalities. And this is guaranteed by the “Borisov” model. Several Bulgarians were created – in the center and the periphery, a few people with a good future and the vast majority, which is doomed to have no future. The former prime minister said the presidential election was not important, but it turned out to be. Because in our face, in the face of President Radev, they found a strong and responsible person who is able to make decisions, who does not fit into the political class of the deal and behind the scenes, the agreements behind the backs of the people. Cause and hinder.
– As a vice president, he is like that for all Bulgarians and you can’t have party preferences, but your relationship with the BSP is no secret. Some time ago, you called on the Socialists for this trust, supporting you for a second term …
– Over the years, I have been most strongly strengthened by the trust of the Bulgarian Socialists and I believe that with President Radev we justify this trust. I am a leftist and I believe that humanity and today’s society will still need our ideas and our policies. The reason and the Bulgarian left must be even stronger and united. During the five years the Bulgarian socialists were by my side – with advice, with criticism when I was worth it. I learn from everyone. We were with many in the protest squares. And now in the campaign he meets great support and emotion. We are honored that the Socialists stand even more confidently behind us, unlike our opponents in the presidential race, who are ashamed to be a candidate of the GERB party. We find support from many other parties, even those led by our opponents. Against us are the political elites, not their voters, members and supporters. At the beginning of the year, President Radev and I acted honestly – we announced your intentions to run for a second term and seek the trust and support of all who share our ideas and our actions. We said: This is us. And we said to the people: We are with you. This is not a lacquered slogan or a powdered promise, a sense of belonging and empathy.
– KOVID-19 fully revealed the problems in healthcare. Even this burden, however, the situation fails to accept to make people give the rules, why did it happen?
“It’s a long conversation.” Remember the year. Instead of reassuring people to explain the virus, Borissov, in the most ruthless way of governing, armed himself with intimidation and panic and fear. He himself escaped responsibility and hid behind headquarters. He does not like to incur unpopular decisions. Cities were closing, police were demanding unnecessary declarations that were going to waste, ministers were pouring threats. The easiest way to manage is a frightened people. At the same time, some companies close to the government have become quite rich on our backs, be it masks, disinfectants, equipment … A feast during the plague! The prosecution must do its job. We found ourselves without any plan for vaccination and treatment of people. There was no plan to help the survival of the already fragile business. They literally collapsed the state. A process from which we still cannot recover. Vaccination of doctors and adults began, after Borissov suddenly single-handedly opened green corridors, which confused the process, even depriving adults of access to vaccines. Will he look for an account for the huge amount of Astra Zeneca we bought, which we then discarded or donated on the Third World page? For the huge commissions for some, and for the shortage of the other two waxes then? Who will take responsibility for this planning? These are not campaign questions, they must be kept running until they get their answer.
Instilling distrust of vaccines was a major disaster, not so much the quantities available. Naturally, in such an emotional and insecure environment, people stopped believing in them. It will be difficult for any government, especially the caretaker cabinet, to deal with all this. Temporary measures have now been taken to avoid closing the page. Another heavy lockdown will return to zero, will again leave people without jobs and income, although help may be received, we will close schools again, scheduled operations will be canceled … Without vaccination nothing will be decided, it will be decide there is a lull, until the next peak, after which people will again be faced with the same risk. Yes, there are chips to cut in the office itself, especially in the Ministry of Health. A serious vaccination campaign needs to be launched much earlier in order to mobilize real experts and people to explain the situation. To say according to the current results how to treat pregnant women, people with serious illnesses. For the introduction of the green certificate, reaction time must be provided to prepare people. In order to overcome the division between people, one must first and foremost be well informed.
– Where is the place of hospitals in this whole situation?
– Hospitals are exhausted, intensive care units are overcrowded, especially with unvaccinated people. It is not enough just to show respect to the doctors with applause, but to think about them as well. This two-year crisis has made us look like X-ray how bad our health care system is. We have been talking about reforms in it for decades, and this is the weakest system in all of Europe. There is a shortage not so much of equipment and hospitals, but of doctors, medical staff, specialists. The roots of this are very far and very deep. When you have not created a system to motivate young doctors to stay in the country, here is the result. Equipment you can bring, doctors is difficult. Let me remind you of another thing – at the end of Borissov’s government, his health ministry wants to close municipal hospitals. As of today, I ask what would have happened if we had done it on the idea of Deputy Minister Jeni Nacheva?
That is why we stand on the side of the Bulgarians and we are together with all those who want this vicious government and government that has ruined us and leaves us with no prospects to be closed.