Galery

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And because you are a Bulgarian media abroad, I would like to say that we would like the Bulgarian citizens to work in Bulgaria instead of being forced to emigrate for economic reasons to other countries, where they work for foreign economies. Bulgarians should work for the Bulgarian economy and the profit should stay in Bulgaria. We can only thank the millionth immigrant community, which currently is the largest foreign investor in the Bulgarian economy. The former government did not recognize it but by sending money to the poor Bulgarian parents, families and relatives, the immigrants really are the biggest foreign investor. We would like our country to offer such conditions that do not force the people to sell their labour abroad and that allow them to work in Bulgaria and earn a decent income like all the Europeans do.

Some commentators identify Attack as a far-right party. Others define it as nationalist and the definition of neo-Nazis had been heard for some of your members. What is actually the ideology of the Attack party?

It has also been heard that our leader has young children for breakfast, that we are fascists and want to make soap from the gypsies. All these things are clichés that stem from our political opponents and the media that are dependent on the government have been spreading them for years but they have nothing to do with reality.

Attack is a nationalist party that is really led by Bulgarian national interests, by the interests of the ordinary people. I can say, as a journalist and as a politician, that the definitions of "left" and "right" are very fuzzy in Bulgaria. I will give an example:  the left BSP has introduced the "right" flat tax rate. It was the same with GERB. One just cannot speak with such terms, particularly in Bulgaria. Therefore, we do not want to be defined as left or right, nor as centrists or liberals. We are nationalists and defend the Bulgarian interests.

Next year, the European Parliament elections will take place. How do you see the Attack party in them?

Until recently, the Attack party had two representatives in the European parliament. Unfortunately, they have already left the party, mainly just under the pressure of internal factors. I hope that if this trend of good performance continues next year, and I see no reason for it not doing so, because, as I said, we express the interests of the ordinary people, we can perform even better in the upcoming European Parliament elections.

Across Europe and in Greece, nationalism and nationalist parties and formations have been on the rise in recent years. The situation in France and Belgium, and the Netherlands is the same too. There is such a trend. We, as a country of the European Union, are also part of this trend.

With which similar European parties do your cooperate and do you have contacts with similar parties in Greece, such as Golden Dawn?

We have had no contacts with Greece so far. We are about to establish some. We have contacts with the National Front of Marine Le Pen in France, with the Austrian nationalist formations and with some small groups in Russia, excluding that of Zhirinovsky. But we are looking to develop our foreign policy relations with such similar parties.

So, you think that Golden Dawn is a similar party, don’t you?

We have no contacts. We are open and we would like to establish some but so far, this has not happened for one reason or another. I think that there are no obstacles for against that happening. I do not want to get involved with qualifications of the parties in Greece.

How many years do you expect that the new Bulgarian parliament will survive? Do you expect new elections? How do you see Bulgaria in the coming years?

If things do not change in the direction proposed by the Attack party, i.e. a sharp increase in people's incomes, the 42nd Parliament might not serve its full term. Bearing in mind the current stalemate configuration with the four parties involved in it, unless urgent measures are taken to drastically improve incomes, fight poverty, create jobs, revive the economy, the people will not allow anyone to govern them as before. It is perfectly possible that early elections be held before the end of the 4-year term.