Political dispute or protection of the national interest?

The GERB-UDF parliamentary group issued a sharp declaration against the caretaker government's intention to veto the new EU sanctions package against Russia if the name of the Russian Patriarch Kirill is included. According to the party, this move brings no benefits to Bulgaria's security or economic stability.

"Aggression is being presented as a desire for peace, and dependency as sovereignty," commented Daniel Mitov from the rostrum of the National Assembly.

Arguments of GERB-UDF

  • Distinguishing faith from politics: The MPs emphasize that the sanctions are not directed against Orthodoxy or the Russian Orthodox Church as an institution, but against a specific individual who legitimizes the Kremlin's war.
  • Ending historical myths: The party states that Bulgaria should not use 19th-century history as an excuse for today's geopolitical dependencies.
  • Economic interests versus propaganda: GERB-UDF supports the protection of the Bulgarian economy and energy security, but believes that "attaching" the issue of the patriarch to these legitimate demands is a mistake.

According to Daniel Mitov, sovereignty is not proven through systematic opposition to allies in the EU, but through a state's ability to defend its clearly defined interests without them being viewed through the prism of foreign political goals.