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Malta MEP Roberta Mezzola, who proposed up to 37 amendments to the European Parliament resolution, withdrew the text, which stated that the protests in Bulgaria were paid for by an accused businessman. The declaration in question is part of the amendments with which the European People’s Party tries to soften the critical text of the resolution on the rule of law in our country. Its author is the socialist Juan Aguilar, who is president of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE). A week ago, the commission approved the resolution by 35 votes to 30 and one abstention.
Roberta Metzola
Immediately afterwards, it became clear that Mezzola and Bulgarian MEP Angel Djambazki had tabled a total of 49 amendments. On one of them it was written that “a prominent tycoon with 18 positions invested funds “in the protests“, apparently alluding to the boss of the game Vasil Bozhkov. That the street discontent was paid by Bozhkov is a mainstay of the Bulgarian government and the prosecutor’s office. The state prosecutor’s office even released SRS recordings in which Bozhkov spoke of the protests to substantiate his thesis The chairman of the EPP parliamentary group, Manfred Weber, reiterated the Bulgarian government’s arguments and asked him to remain in power until the ordinary elections in March next year.
He and Mezzola have both been severely criticized on social media. On Wednesday, hours before the vote on the amendments, the Maltese MEP withdrew the text of the paid protests.
“Breathe, the PPE group has never said or hinted that all protesters in Bulgaria have been paid. However, we understand that the amendment in question was misinterpreted and was therefore withdrawn.“he wrote on Twitter.
Take a breath guys. The @EPPGroup never said or intended to say everyone protesting in Bulgaria is paid. In fact, many of our amendments strengthen the right to protest. We do understand though that the amendment in question has been open to misinterpretation & has been withdrawn
— Roberta Metsola MEP (@RobertaMetsola) October 7, 2020
Even so, if the amendments are approved, the tone of the resolution will be greatly softened. Mezzola wants to add critical texts against President Rumen Radev. He wants the resolution to have the following preamble.
“Whereas in recent months Bulgarian citizens have witnessed a large number of complaints of high-level corruption, some of which are directly related to the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic of Bulgaria; Whereas in recent months the international media have repeatedly reported possible links between criminal groups and the Bulgarian authorities and between foreign intelligence and services and advisers to the president …“
He suggests praising the indictment for the charges against Environment and Water Minister Neno Dimov and two deputy ministers, which should serve as proof that corruption is being prosecuted.
As for the protesters, Roberta Mezzola proposes to modify the text that condemns the police violence against them. Instead, he wants to write that in a pandemic, they don’t keep a physical distance from each other.
Djambazki, on the other hand, does not like most of the document and insists on deleting its first paragraph, with which the EP should express “deep regret” for the development of Bulgaria “.it led to a significant deterioration in respect for the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights, including the independence of the judiciary, the separation of powers, the fight against corruption and freedom of the media.“.
He also proposes to delete the paragraph that calls for stopping money from corrupt governments, but maintaining public access to EU funds.
Of the group of liberals, three amendments were made by the Romanian Ramona Strugariu, who in turn insisted on intensifying criticism of the authorities in Sofia.
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