Knockout! Hero Mustafa told the truth about Bulgaria
The rule of law remains one of the most important challenges here today. We all know that. That’s why we’re here. When I talk about the rule of law, I think of it as the principle that all people and the state are accountable and equal before the law. This is a topic very close to me. And when I finish my three and a half years here in Bulgaria and look back, I first think about all these successes that Bulgaria achieved during this period.
However, the one area where I regret that we have not seen as much progress is in the area of the rule of law. Before I came to Bulgaria, in all my introductory meetings, many Bulgarian officials told me: “Don’t use the K word. Don’t use that K word – corruption. That’s not where it starts. It will ruin my relationship with the government The first thing that they would say that enforces them is corruption. So you had to make that my priority. And that’s the priority for the Biden administration. .
Now some of you may be asking – why do I care so much? Because I personally care. I care because true friends, true partners, true allies work together to build each other up. And when Bulgaria is strong, we are strong. And real partners talk honestly with each other. That is why I am here to say: I am a true friend of Bulgaria. And always will be. So, if you’ll allow me, I’m going to be honest with you today about some of the issues that continue to interest me.
We have heard and I know that other chambers of commerce have heard from so many investors that they see huge potential here in Bulgaria, but fear that their rights will not be protected if they are ever in litigation. We hear stories about businesses that are referred to influencers. They use meaning to bully, intimidate, blackmail opponents. We hear about lawyers with suitcases, backroom deals, bribes. We hear about opaque procurement practices, customized tenders, specifications and favoritism in government procurement. We hear this from our own companies, so we know this first hand. In Bulgaria, we saw that corruption fundamentally distorts the functioning of some countries and this is to the detriment of the Bulgarian people.
We hear from members of the judiciary and law enforcement who make valiant efforts to investigate and prosecute corruption, only to be jailed, often transferred to other offices or suspended indefinitely when they get too close to redlining. These civil servants are denied promotions, transferred to distant cities and fired. I’m not telling you anything you don’t know. I’m just telling the truth as your friend so we can all focus on that.
While we will continue to use all the tools we have as your partner to serve as a catalyst, we all know that change must come from within. Bulgarian politicians who show courage, according to the Minister of Justice, have the will of the citizens who want responsibility from their government. That’s why events like today are important. The business community in Bulgaria has a huge influence, such as public discussions, shaping policies and proposing effective reforms to improve the business climate. I need a concerted effort.