Politicians should be banned from speaking in public for at least 24 hours after an accident, GERB leader Boyko Borisov has proposed. He wants heavy penalties for anyone who breaks the ban. Borisov made the proposal to reporters in the corridors of parliament on Wednesday, 11 November.
He was reacting to the crashes on the Trakia motorway on Tuesday morning. In thick fog, two pile-ups happened in both directions of the motorway near Yambol. At least 12 people died and more than 50 were injured. Police closed the carriageway towards Sofia, and drivers from Burgas were sent on a detour through Karnobat and Petolachkata.
Related: At least 12 dead and 50 injured in pile-ups on Trakia motorway
Borisov said playing politics on a day of mourning, after crashes like these, disgusts everyone. Crashes and accidents happen all over the world and will keep happening, he said, but tragedies should not be used for political fights.
Borisov said that until 5pm on Tuesday there had not been a single political attack, only condolences. He said his own social media post had also offered condolences.
"People were still trapped in the wreckage and the kings of excuses had already started, because we have heard nothing from them but excuses," Borisov said, as quoted by the BTA news agency.
He said that in the past he removed ministers and parliament speakers over far smaller cases. "For much smaller crashes I removed three ministers, for much smaller failings I removed parliament speakers. That is moral responsibility," Borisov said.
The GERB leader said the current government has no morals and will remove nobody, and that the cause will be sought in everything except the people in power.
Borisov offered condolences to the families of the dead and sympathy to the injured, to those who will be left disabled and to their families. He thanked the firefighters, doctors, paramedics and police officers who took part in the rescue, and everyone who gave blood.
Borisov said health minister Katya Ivkova had said at noon that blood was not needed, but people went to donate anyway.