MPs rejected a request for a hearing of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov

Tensions in the National Assembly rose today after the parliamentary group of "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB) was unsuccessful in its attempt to demand an official explanation from Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov. The request for his hearing, planned for Thursday, was categorically rejected by the majority in the plenary hall.

The main reason for the opposition"s insistence was the incident that occurred on September 4, involving the director of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (RDIA) in Ruse, Senior Commissioner Nikolay Kozhuharov. This case, which provoked a wide public response, became the reason for serious questions about the functioning of law enforcement agencies and the transparency of state institutions.

The proposal for the hearing was motivated by DSB Chairman Atanas Atanasov, who is also one of its sponsors. From the parliamentary rostrum, he made serious criticism of the discrepancy between the official information provided by the authorities and the data circulating in the public space. Atanasov emphasized that in a situation where society is called upon to trust institutions, the existence of contradictory information on such an important case is unacceptable.

After the unsuccessful vote, Atanasov made a second attempt, urging his fellow deputies to reconsider their position and support the proposal for a revote. He pointed out that the Council of Ministers, according to the Constitution, bears direct responsibility for ensuring the country"s security and that it is vital to hear the prime minister_q_s opinion on this issue. Despite his emotional appeal, the majority remained unyielding.

Meanwhile, according to the adopted official program of the parliament, the first item on the agenda for today was the voting for a deputy ombudsman. On August 18, Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva officially submitted the candidacy of Maria Filipova for the position. After the vote on the program was concluded, the deputies proceeded to the traditional reading of declarations on current topics, delivered by the parliamentary groups.

The parliamentary atmosphere was palpably tense, and the faces of the opposition deputies showed disappointment at the failure of their attempt to get clarity on the case in Ruse. While the debates subsided and the hall moved on to the next items on the agenda, questions about the incident with the Ruse director of the Ministry of Internal Affairs remain without an official answer from the highest state level.