We cannot define Bulgaria as anything other than a democracy with its own problems, stated Interior Minister Daniel Mitov. This was said during the "Dialogue on Defense and Democracy: "Fortress of Freedom" " conference, which took place in Sofia. The Center for the Study of Democracy organized the forum. The minister answered a question from the audience regarding the most appropriate approach to guaranteeing institutional resilience against corruption, viewed as a function of the potential capture of the state.
Eyes in the hall were fixed on the minister as he began to develop his theses. Tension and anticipation could be felt.
"I know that there is a part of the Bulgarian political environment that likes to think that Bulgaria is a captured state," Mitov noted. He continued: "They would like to convince themselves that this is the case, but let's go back to the definition of a captured state. According to political science and the World Bank, this is a systematic undermining of the decision-making process in the state by private or foreign interests. Institutions formally exist, but informally they are controlled, but again I repeat - private," he explained.
The minister emphasized the importance of an objective assessment of the situation. Things should not be confused, he warned.
"Quite often, those who claim that Bulgaria is a captured state do not take into account that they mention political parties or political leaders as those who have captured the state. In Bulgaria there are elections. The elections in recent years were won by different political parties. Power has changed. Governments have changed peacefully," Mitov said, presenting his arguments.
Silence reigned in the hall while those present carefully listened to the minister's words.
The conversation also touched on potential threats to democratic governance.
"We have also witnessed attempts to capture the state, but this has not been something that has been allowed. We have heard conversations in party meetings about how certain political parties dreamed of capturing the Ministry of Interior, counterintelligence, intelligence, etc. The way of thinking may exist, but I do not believe that we can define Bulgaria as anything other than a democracy with its own problems," commented Daniel Mitov, making his position clear.
The minister concluded with a warning against simplifying complex issues.
"Confusing democracy with its own problems and ways of development with a captured state actually devalues even the term "captured state" and offends countries that are actually under control," the minister concluded.