Bulgarian political leaders condemn attempted assassination of Trump

Sofia: Various Bulgarian political leaders have joined in condemnation of the attempted assassination of US Republican Party presidential candidate Donald Trump.

As the BBC reported, Trump was shot in the ear at a campaign event on July 13. The alleged gunman was shot dead, while a spectator also died in the incident.

In Bulgaria, the first to react was Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of the pro-Kremlin party Vuzrazhdane, Parliament’s third-largest group. On social networks, Kostadinov posted “total support for Donald Trump!”

On its official website, Vuzrazhdane said: “After the shooting of the Prime Minister of Slovakia, there was also a shooting of Trump today. Vuzrazhdane condemns political violence in all its forms”.

“We express our full support for Donald Trump, we wish him a speedy recovery and victory in the elections in the autumn,” the party said.

“Vuzrazhdane reminds that the main fault for the wave of violence lies with the liberal-globalist elite, pushing constant hate speech through its media channels. The fact that the pro-American parties in Bulgaria did not condemn the attempt on Fico and are now silent about the attack on Trump is telling,” it said.

Boiko Borissov, leader of centre-right coalition GERB-UDF, Parliament’s largest group, said in a post on Facebook on July 14 – accompanied by a photo of him with Trump – said: “I strongly condemn the assassination attempt on Donald Trump and wish him a speedy recovery”.

“Violence has no place in a civilised and democratic world. We all need to realise that hate speech only divides our societies,” Borissov said.

“In Bulgaria, the language of hatred between politicians is becoming increasingly sharp and visible,” he said.

“Division between people is dangerous and I have long warned that it will not lead to anything good. That is why we once again state that we rely on political maturity in the upcoming election campaign without hate speech,” Borissov said.

Kiril Petkov, co-leader of reformist pro-Western coalition We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria, Parliament’s second-largest group, said on Facebook: “Violence can never be a solution to political differences. The shooting of former President Donald Trump is an unacceptable act.

“I wish Mr. Trump a speedy recovery and we call on all political forces to unite in condemning such acts of violence,” Petkov said.

Bulgarian head of state President Roumen Radev said, in a message on X: “I strongly condemn the assassination attempt on former US President Trump. Violence and hatred challenge the democratic political process and are unacceptable. I pray for the speedy recovery of Pr. Trump and those injured. Condolences to the American people for the innocent victim”.

Delyan Peevski, co-leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, Parliament’s fourth-largest group, said: “The escalation of political conflict and the gross encroachment on the life of a world political leader, such as President and candidate for President of the United States Donald Trump, arouses great concern.

“Democracy is an opportunity to choose, not to shoot the opponent. Everyone must unite in the search for dialogue, acceptance of differences and blocking the language of hatred,” said Peevski, who since June 2021 has been subject to US Magnitsky Act sanctions for large-scale corruption, with the Treasury Department describing him as “an oligarch who previously served as a Bulgarian MP and media mogul and has regularly engaged in corruption, using influence peddling and bribes to protect himself from public scrutiny and exert control over key institutions and sectors in Bulgarian society”.

Peevski denies these allegations.

Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry said on X: “We are deeply shocked by the appalling attack on former President Trump during an event of his campaign for candidate.

“We extend condolences for the victim and wish a full recovery for the injured from the attack. Political violence is unacceptable and incompatible with democracy,” the ministry said.