Two members from the Bulgarian Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), Elena Yoncheva and Taner Kabilov, have decided to leave Renew following the group’s decision to exclude the DPS. Renew Europe, the liberal group in the European Parliament, had threatened to expel the DPS for supporting its leader, Delyan Peevski, who is US-sanctioned for corruption. The DPS has also announced its withdrawal from Renew and ALDE, Renew’s main political party, after being expelled by both formations. Renew’s political bureau was set to meet to begin the exclusion process, with a vote scheduled for January 14. The two MEPs chose to stay loyal to the DPS and resigned from Renew.
The DPS had won 11% of the vote in Bulgaria’s seventh parliamentary elections, which took place amid accusations of vote-buying. The party has faced turmoil since oligarch Delyan Peevski took over its leadership following a split within the party. Peevski has been sanctioned by both the US under the Magnitsky Act and the UK for corruption. The two dominant political forces in Bulgaria, Boyko Borissov’s GERB party and the pro-European liberal coalition PP-DB, have struggled to form a government due to calls for a “cordon sanitaire” against Peevski. Renew Europe’s leader Valerie Hayer stated that the values of the DPS-Peevski faction were incompatible with those of Renew Europe, leading to the recommendation of the immediate exclusion of the DPS-Peevski party from the group.
The ALDE Bureau also unanimously voted for the expulsion of the DPS from the ALDE party. MEP Svenja Hahn, the President of ALDE Party, emphasized that a party led by an individual sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act has no place in their family. The decision to exclude the DPS from both Renew Europe and ALDE reflects a clear stance against corruption and unethical behavior. The ongoing political turmoil in Bulgaria, with major parties struggling to form a government, underscores the need for upholding democratic values and maintaining integrity within political entities. The expulsion of the DPS sends a strong message about the European Parliament’s commitment to combating corruption and upholding ethical standards among its members.
The situation involving the DPS and its exclusion from Renew has wider implications for political alliances and integrity within the European Parliament. The decision to expel the DPS demonstrates a zero-tolerance policy towards individuals or parties involved in corrupt practices. It also highlights the importance of maintaining a strong stance against individuals sanctioned for corruption, such as Delyan Peevski. The expulsion of the DPS from both Renew Europe and ALDE serves as a warning to other political entities about the consequences of aligning with individuals facing corruption allegations.
Elena Yoncheva and Taner Kabilov’s decision to leave Renew in solidarity with the DPS despite the threat of expulsion showcases their loyalty to their party and its values. The choice to prioritize their party over their membership in Renew reflects the complexities of political affiliations and the tensions that can arise within multinational political groups. The situation also raises questions about the criteria for membership in political alliances and the standards that member parties and individuals are expected to uphold. The aftermath of the exclusion of the DPS will likely have lasting effects on the relationships between political parties within the European Parliament and the broader implications for upholding democratic values and combatting corruption at a continental level.
