According to Ivaylo Mirchev from “Democratic Bulgaria” it will be humiliating if the official cabinet resumes negotiations with “Gazprom”
If the caretaker government resumes negotiations with Gazprom, it will show that Bulgaria can bend to Russia, but it will not solve the problem simply because Putin cuts off the gas when he chooses. This was stated on bTV by the deputy of “Democratic Bulgaria” (DB) Ivaylo Mirchev, who is also the deputy chairman of the committee on energy in the 47th National Assembly, quoted by the press center of DB.
There are many options, Mirchev believes – both for Egypt and barter, and the energy minister is working on all of them, but returning to Gazprom will not solve the issue, even in terms of price, he says.
The message says that although he shares the concerns of business, Mirchev again opposes the chairman of the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria, Vasil Velev, for disrupted gas supplies to manufacturers. “Since April 26, when Gazprom unilaterally did not cut off gas, supplies to businesses have not stopped for the time being. Chiren is fuller than before, although not fuller than the gas storages in Germany”, says Mirchev. He adds that Hungary, which has a large contract with Gazprom, nevertheless pays one of the most expensive gas in Europe. Therefore, the eventual restoration of Bulgaria’s relations with “Gazprom” will not help us, and the actual contract does not prevent the Kremlin from stopping gas to the countries of Western Europe, adds Mirchev.
“Whether there will be gas in the coming months depends on the caretaker government.” In order to have gas for the winter, someone has to go to Erdogan, for example, and understand with him that a certain amount of gas from Iran or Turkey can be obtained through Bulgaria,” says Mirchev. The previous government could only make short-term contracts for the two months after the end of April, and long-term ones are needed.
Mirchev rejects as speculation the claims that there is no way gas brought by tankers will be delivered to consumers in our country. According to him, the only question about the price is how the gas will reach Bulgaria. He calls for if there were problems with the determination of supply and intermediaries, the competent authorities should investigate and not use it for election rhetoric.
Mirchev reminds that DB until the last tried to form the government of reason in the outgoing National Assembly, which would be able to lead the country through the energy and other looming crises.
The immature political behavior of most of the parties in the parliament, he said, has ruined this opportunity and puts the question before everyone what will happen after the elections. “I am really worried about what will happen to my country where my children live. And not only about whether there will be gas – Bulgaria is one of the least dependent in this regard in Europe – I like that after these elections Bulgaria will not turn geopolitically in a direction that will go back many years”, says the MP from DB .
He hopes that “We Continue the Change” (PP) will show maturity this time and accept the DB’s proposal for a pre-election coalition of all protest forces. According to him, last year it was understandable that the PP participated independently in the elections, because it was their first appearance, but now the danger is that the country will enter a spiral from the crisis. In addition, says Mirchev, the change is not for the PP or the DB, but for the entire democratic community, which must be united in order to succeed.