The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) has recommended the expulsion of Bulgaria’s Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), ending a 23-year partnership due to corruption allegations and the controversial rise of Delyan Peevski as its leader. MRF was founded by ethnically Turkish leader Ahmed Dogan, and regularly has formed part of Bulgaria’s governmental coalitions.
However, prominent political figure Delyan Peevski joined the party, and later seceded, creating his faction. MRF is now divided into two parties, those that remained to Ahmed Dogan (ARF, Alliance for Rights and Freedom), and Peevski’s party, renamed MRF The New Beginning.
Peevski, known as a prominent media mogul in Bulgaria, gained influence through his family’s acquisition of major outlets such as Telegraph, Monitor, and Politika. Organizations like Reporters Without Borders have criticized Peevski’s media ownership, alleging that editors were pressured into writing critical pieces about his political rivals.
The businessman has been sanctioned under the Global Magnitskys sanctions program by the USA in 2019. Accusations include corruption charges and abuse of public institutions for personal gain.
In response, Peevski filed a complaint against the US in court, claiming he has been the victim of “draconian punishment”. He also said at the time that he tried arranging the matter in a meeting, but was denied the opportunity to do so. He added the Magnitsky Act allows the US to sanction representatives, but not private individuals.
The Magnitsky Act, passed by the U.S. in 2012, was initially created to target Russian officials accused of human rights violations but has since expanded globally to sanction individuals implicated in corruption or abuses. Other countries also made their own version of the Act, such as Canada and the three Baltic States.
Peevski has been active as a lawmaker and MP in the Bulgarian Parliament for two decades and recently announced he intended to run for the PM position. His party is accused of purchasing votes, often with violent threats. Before the split, DPS was the country’s second or third biggest party, reaching 15% in the last elections.
Contrary to the news posted by ALDE, a clip ran on Bulgarian television where Peevski claimed MRF and he had not been kicked out but framed it as a departure of their own will. He claimed the rift was a result of the MRF’s “disappointment with European Liberals. When ALDE published the statement, BNT (Bulgarian National TV) and NOVA (privately-owned TV channel) didn’t mention MRF’s exclusion and instead broadcasted the party’s conference. When BNT finally mentioned the topic, it framed it as Peevski/MRF “leaving” ALDE.
ALDE alleged in the statement that Peevski’s political moves as of late have been detrimental to Bulgaria’s democratic principles, leading them to recommend the exclusion of his party. It also reminded that their member parties cannot have Magnitisky-sanctioned individuals, while also mentioning corruption allegations. Published on December 22nd, two days before Christmas, it is likely that it is ALDE’s reaction to MRF deciding to elect Peevski as the party’s sole leader. Furthermore, Ahmed Dogan’s “honorary president” as the party founder was removed, which significantly removes his influence and power over MRF.
Dogan-loyalist Chakurov has already replied by saying he intends to challenge MRF’s exclusion from ALDE, as he believes it was an illegitimate decision.
As Bulgaria’s political landscape shifts, the fallout from this divide will likely shape liberalism in Bulgaria in the coming years.
