Here we go again on a wild ride with Bulgaria's political wonderboy, and we wonder where it is going to end-this time!
The Interior Minister has introduced himself as a dedicated crusader against corruption and organized crime, and his recent "grand scale" police actions and dramatic arrests have triggered an escalating media circus. Hundreds of people have been arrested over the last year ,but only one has been prosecuted and convicted.
The honorable Interior Minister, of whom it is fair to say he has more courage than brain, has repeatedly presented horrendous accusations and "strong" evidence. But even the Bulgarian Judiciary(whatever that is) cannot find ground to prosecute or charge "the criminals"- and that is quite remarkable.The distinguished and high profiled member of the BG Government is frustrated over the BG courts and Judiciary that do not seem to evaluate his publicly announced evidence in the same way
.
Again he makes statements and announces strong evidence in the Parliament, accusing a man of being a pimp. However corrupt and inefficient the judges and the courts are, only when charged and found guilty beyond doubt in a fair trial,the Interior Minister can make the announcement.
But he has been cutting corners and violating civil rights since the first day in office, encouraged by his popularity and EU applauding.
Now the Interior Minister is a loose political cannon who is causing Bulgaria's reputation more collateral damage than the previous Government ever hoped to achieve through years of rampant corruption,fraud and organized crime!
A remarkable result in its own way.
No one is surprised by police brutality (look at Bulgaria's track record for the European Court of Human Rights), prostitution and organized crime in Bulgaria. But the Interior Minister has a public responsibility to behave like a statesman and politician- not being a backyard bully who publicly justifies harassment, violence, intimidation and "street justice".

His appearance in the Parliament was disgraceful and absurd- for any one who observed. In any other civilized EU country a Minister would have taken responsibility and resigned - but Bulgaria is not there yet.

What we have here is trial by media and press statements. First the victims of the brutality made a lot of allegations in the media, now the Minister (and the police by implication) take a turn.

A more honourable minister would not make such a statement in public, much less use Parliamentary privilege to do so. But then BG politicos are not as accustomed to being challenged by members of the public as their Western equivalents.

Anyway I suppose this slanging match will continue until there is a trial. It will be interesting to see what evidence the prosecution have.