For years, Socialists and Democrats have denounced the situation in Bulgaria for its growing corruption, and attacks on the rule of law and freedom of media. This is why the public designation of Bulgarian public officials and oligarchs for engaging in corruption by the US State Department comes as no surprise. The close connections over the years with the former Prime Minister, Boyko Borissov, are well known to Bulgarians.

This is what made people go out on the streets and protest against the Borissov government and his GERB Party (EPP). In addition, the S&D Group has requested that the European Parliament’s committee on civil liberties (LIBE) monitoring group on the rule of law and fundamental rights organise a fact-finding mission in this Member State in the autumn of this year. 

Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament are also demanding a debate in the next meeting of the committee on budgetary control (CONT).

S&D Group president, Iratxe García Pérez, said:

“The problems with corruption became a trademark for Borissov’s government and his GERB party. This is why Bulgarians have been taking to the streets. The S&D MEPs have been denouncing what comes as no secret to Bulgarians, and even less for the conservatives in the European Parliament.  Unfortunately, the EPP group has always decided to remain blind.

“However, Bulgaria started to turn the page on the last parliamentary election held on 4th April 2021. And I hope the shameful practices of GERB and their oligarchs will definitely be a closed chapter after the upcoming elections on 11th July 2021.

“We as Socialists and Democrats are following very closely the developments in Bulgaria. We have already requested a mission to Bulgaria in the autumn of this year. Meanwhile, these drastic corruption cases deserve a debate in the committee on budgetary control as soon as possible. We hope our EPP colleagues will support the mission as well as the debate and will not again turn a blind eye this time.”