“`html
SFSMVR’s Statement on the Appointment of a New Interior Minister
The Federation of Employees in the Ministry of Interior (SFSMVR) has issued a statement directed at the newly appointed Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Goritsa Grancharova-Kozhareva. They express their hope that she will approach the selection and appointment of the interim Minister of Interior with objectivity and rationality.
According to the Board of Directors of SFSMVR, over its 15 years of existence, the federation has engaged in discussions and negotiations with more than 20 ministers of interior. “Many of those appointed in this role, who were seen as champions of civil change within the Ministry, not only failed to achieve this goal but also froze or even dismantled the social dialogue within the agency,” the federation warns.
Due to this history, they are increasingly concerned about the growing attempts to politically exploit the Ministry of Interior and its professionals. The federation hopes that Goritsa Grancharova-Kozhareva will familiarize herself with the dynamics and processes between previous interior ministers and SFSMVR. They believe she will act responsibly, ensuring the necessary calm and stability for effective work and results—outcomes that society expects from those serving in the Ministry of Interior.
They also emphasize that recent insinuations claiming that the elections on June 9, 2024, are manipulated, along with unfounded criticisms directed at firefighters battling wildfires, as well as the persistent unjust vilification of the Ministry of Interior by political figures, are not only met with confusion by professionals in the system but are also seen as indirect accusations and insults to the 50,000 individuals working within the ministry.
The Board of Directors of SFSMVR asserts that if there is evidence of election manipulation by employees within the system, this information should be reported not to the media or the public, but to the Prosecutor’s Office of Bulgaria. They stress that any actions taken outside the legally established mechanisms for investigating crimes are blatant manipulation and propaganda.
Furthermore, the Board urges all politicians to recognize that declaring that Bulgarian firefighters—those who tirelessly combat the flames for weeks—are incapable of managing the fire crisis is disrespectful and degrading to those who work around the clock under challenging conditions.
“`
