Consultations with President Iliyana Yotova for an acting prime minister continue. Today, the head of state's first meeting was with Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva. After the meeting, Delcheva made a comment to the media, BNT reports.
"Yes, I spoke with President Yotova and I reaffirmed what I have been stating to Bulgarian citizens since the moment my candidacy for Ombudsman was put forward and my sincere and inner conviction that the Ombudsman as an independent body, which must protect the rights of citizens when the state acts or fails to act to their general detriment, has no place in the executive branch. This is also confirmed by the last few months in which I was elected Ombudsman. For the same period last year, there were 3 times fewer complaints from citizens than in the period in which there was an Ombudsman. Which means that for Bulgarian citizens it is extremely important to have a person acting in this position. After a year and a half, I do not think it is right to abandon Bulgarian citizens again and for them to be left without a defender of their rights. As a final addition, I will say again that there are European and international standards that also require the Ombudsman to remain as independent as possible from the other authorities in the state".
"I told President Yotova that at this moment I stand by my position again that the Ombudsman cannot perform the duties of an acting Prime Minister and then return as an Ombudsman who protects the rights of citizens. The institution of the Ombudsman is something that benefits every citizen. The Ombudsman is the person who solves everyday problems, personal problems, individual, separate problems of citizens," Delcheva added.
After Delcheva, the president will meet with her deputy - Maria Filipova.