Progressive Bulgaria says it opposes all excessive force, after an incident outside its office yesterday involving a National Protection Service (NSO) guard and journalist Sonya Koltukilieva.
The guard protects parliament speaker Mihaela Dotsova. Deputy speaker Atanas Atanasov asked her to resign yesterday, and Dotsova went to the Military Prosecutor's Office to tell Koltukilieva in person that she was sorry.
See also: Speaker Dotsova apologises to Sonya Koltuklieva in person over incident with her official car
The party's press office says the opposition's call for the speaker to resign is inappropriate, ignores NSO procedures and shows a revival of the "sglobka". "We will not allow the case of Sonya Koltukilieva to be used to rehabilitate the sglobka," the press office said. The party says any attempt to do so will fail.
The party says laws and rules apply to everyone, and breaking them is unacceptable, whether by people from institutions, citizens or the media. It says such incidents should not be provoked, allowed or used for selfish political ends. It is waiting for the results of the investigation.
President Iliana Yotova will ask for the resignation of NSO head Emil Tonev, she told reporters. "At this stage I personally see failings and I expect resignations," the head of state said.
The National Protection Service said last night it would check the case.