17:44,

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS/BTA. President Rumen Radev doubts that what he considers "a parliament of low public approval and low legitimacy" should amend the Constitution. "Let us see what they are going to propose. There is a majority but there have been no proposals about amending the Constitution," Radev said on Wednesday, taking a question from BTA about whether amending Bulgaria's basic law is on the agenda.

He was also asked to comment on a remark by Hristo Ivanov of Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria, one of two coalitions which have worked out the formula of the present government. Ivanov said recently that Radev's opinion that "Ukraine insists on waging the war" against Russia puts the Bulgarian President in the same league as the pro-Russian President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, which Ivanov described as "irresponsible and dangerous for Bulgaria".

Radev said: "Mr Ivanov is doing everything possible, using all possible cards to make us forget the lowly way in which he deceived his voters and betrayed his own principles and values. He had built his entire political image as a fighter against the mafia, which he identified with [GERB party leader Boyko] Borissov, and against backstage politics, which he identified with [businessman and MP Delyan] Peevski. And now, he is not just locked in an embrace with them, he is their running dog."

Radev expects the government to defend Bulgaria's interests and to follow the Bulgarian agenda, paying attention to the problems of the people. "This will determine my attitude to the incumbents," he said.

(This information is being published according to an agreement between Armenpress and BTA.)