Petkov warns of coalition collapse, blasts Peevski’s influence

BSP-OL lawmaker Ivan Petkov warned that the Zhelyazkov cabinet’s continuation risks another White Bus scenario. He said the National Council would accept speaker rotation terms despite previously securing the position, questioning why the coalition formed after party members rejected MRF-NN cooperation and established a cordon sanitaire against Peevski.

Petkov described recent developments as humiliating for the century-old party and its voters. He said the leadership abandoned clear boundaries after sympathizers opposed eurozone entry and backed Russia, with maintaining coalition status becoming the sole priority rather than defending principles.

The parliamentarian criticized the failure to protect Natalia Kiselova and predicted that Peevski’s influence would expand within the cabinet. He questioned why expelled Dogan associates returned to support MRF-NN and warned that coalition stability cannot last amid Lukoil complications and euro adoption pressures that will trigger speculation after January 1.

Petkov rejected amendments that would weaken the presidential decree’s authority over security appointments. He said participants must accept the consequences of changes at DANS, DAR, DATO, and NSO, adding that he prefers identification with Radev over Peevski, as parties rarely survive Borisov’s governance.