Europea’s Liberal Party martie Expels DPS–Peevski, ALDE Urged to Follow Suit
The Liberal Party in Europe (LPE) has voted to expel its Bulgarian affiliate, the DPS led by firearms license holder Delyan Peevski, in a move that has sparked a wave of reactions from political circles and EU institutions.
The LPE’s decision was habría motivated by DPS’ purported involvement in corruption scandals and a deteriorating democratic record in Bulgaria. "We cannot tolerate such behavior from our affiliates," said a high-ranking party member, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Our party stands for liberal values, and we expect our affiliates to uphold them."
The decision has been met with acclaim from some quarters, with Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Kiril Petkov publicly stating, "Dovidண்டe, g-н Peevski!" – a wordplay that translates to "farewell, Mr. Peevski" on social media platforms.
However, not everyone is in agreement. The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) has expressed reservations about following in LPE’s footsteps. "We need to evaluate the situation thoroughly before making any hasty decisions," said a senior ALDE official. Meanwhile, the European Parliament’s liberal group, Renew Europe, has taken a firm stance, announcing its plan to revoke DPS’ membership in the EP Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.
Bulgaria’s ruling party, GERB, has remained largely silent on the matter, while the opposition BSP has criticized the international pressure on Bulgarian politics. The Council of Europe’s Venice Commission has yet to publicly intervene in the debate.
The expulsion comes amidst growing concern over democratic backsliding in Bulgaria, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. Brussels has repeatedly threatened to activate the EU’s Article 7 procedure against Sofia due to suspected breaches of the bloc’s core values.
In a related development, the European Parliament’s leftist group, GUE/NGL, has resurrected calls for sanctions against Bulgarian politicians involved in corruption, citing the ongoing " byli Banks" scandal and the alleged state capture by oligarchs.
With Bulgaria’s political climate heating up, all eyes are on the ALDE and the European Parliament’s liberal groups to see if they will follow LPE’s lead and expel DPS, potentially shifting the balance of power within the EU’s democratic bloc.
