Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Dispute in the parliament in Sofia over whether an MEP betrays Bulgarian interests

Toshko Yordanov, MP from ITN
Photo: BGNES

The actions of Bulgaria's MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk, elected from the quota of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), who should represent Bulgaria in the European Parliament, are national betrayal, said MP Toshko Yordanov from "There is such a people" (ITN) in a statement from the rostrum of the Bulgarian Parliament. According to Yordanov, Kyuchyuk, who is the rapporteur in the European Parliament for North Macedonia, removed from the draft report on the country's progress towards the EU amendment 18, which includes all bilateral issues between Skopje and Sofia.

"From this rostrum, MPs like Toshko Yordanov speak open lies without referring to facts," answered the leader of MRF Mustafa Karadaya.

Meanwhile, the German Bundestag voted that Skopje should amend the constitution of North Macedonia as agreed with Bulgaria and recognize the Bulgarian minority in order to speed up the country's EU integration. The decision of the ruling coalition in Germany explicitly recognizes the existence of the Macedonian language, culture and identity. 

Bulgaria's MEP Andrey Kovatchev defined the decision of the Bundestag as a strange phenomenon. "I have not heard of another similar phenomenon on our planet, where a country is so insecure about its identity, language and culture that it has to ask another country through a political decision of a legislative body to recognize its language, culture and identity. Our colleagues, neighbours and friends in Skopje should not worry about having a modern identity, language and culture, but I understand that they want to show some historical continuity or historical continuity that is different from the Bulgarian one. This is the basis of our problem, that's where discrimination and hate speech come from, and all the problems we have. These are not bilateral problems, these are problems related to basic human rights and European values," says Kovatchev.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Atanas Zapryanov

Bulgarian Defence Minister Zapryanov meets Albanian counterpart Vengu in Tirana

Bulgarian Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov met his Albanian counterpart Pirro Vengu in Tirana on Monday in his first official visit to Albania, the Albanian Defence Ministry said. The two ministers highlighted strong defence and security ties..

published on 9/15/25 6:25 PM

Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summons the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sofia

On September 15, 2025, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sofia, Eleonora Mitrofanova, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria in connection with the deliberate violation of Polish airspace by Russian military drones on..

published on 9/15/25 3:18 PM

Father Ivan from Novi Han has passed away

Father Ivan from Novi Han has passed away, Bulgarian media reported, citing Georgi Georgiev, the mayor of the village of Yakimovo. The priest gained widespread recognition for the noble cause to which he dedicated his life — offering warmth, shelter..

published on 9/15/25 2:17 PM