Maria Ilieva: The vote of no confidence is doomed, but the next one will pass (interview for Darik)

Maria Ilieva, a member of parliament from the party "Velichie", appeared on "Denyat na Darik" to discuss the upcoming fifth vote of no confidence against the government, whose topic is "justice and internal security".

Regarding the vote of no confidence and the political situation:

• Ilieva believes that it is possible for MPs from GERB, BSP, and "There Is Such a People" (ITN) to vote according to conscience against the government. She points out that the ITN-GERB coalition is a serious blow to their image and electorate, and that BSP under Kornelia Ninova has become a "business coalition" rather than a leftist party. This is a "last chance" for them to "save face".
• According to Ilieva, sociological surveys, including those by Marketlinks, give "Velichie" 4.1%, which is above the threshold. She claims that "Velichie" has always received more votes than predicted and that their growth is due to their fieldwork and consistency in actions.
• "Velichie" was a "huge surprise" upon its first entry into parliament. The party has not reneged on its promise to change the current government (Boyko Borisov and Delyan Peevski) and has not entered coalitions, rejecting monetary and power offers.
• Despite attacks and insults from other political forces, "Velichie" supports any initiative that could lead to the government's fall, such as the referendum and votes of no confidence.
• Maria Ilieva is adamant that the upcoming vote of no confidence is 99.9% likely to fail, but predicts that the next one will pass.

Criticism of the current government and economic situation:

• Ilieva states that Bulgaria "is moving BACKWARD every day" – economically and politically. She criticizes politicians for lacking dignity, changing their opinions, and failing to defend the national interest, making them unreliable partners on the international stage.
• According to her, the economy is the biggest problem in the country. She denies Martin Dimitrov's claim that GERB and DPS implement "left policies" through spending. Ilieva explains that they spend to save their own positions in power, paying their electorate (mayors, civil servants, administration). This kills business and does not help people.
• Tax increases are expected. Ilieva notes that the money from borrowed debts covers old loans and salaries for state employees, rather than creating added value. State enterprises operate at a loss of about 12% of GDP.
• She claims that the real budget deficit is 9–12%, not 3% as announced, and that "financial engineering" is being used to cover it up.
• Regarding the eurozone, Ilieva believes that joining comes with problems, as many EU countries are heavily indebted and do not meet the criteria, while the European Central Bank prints money. She gives examples with Hungary, Romania, and Poland, which do not want to join the eurozone and whose economic indicators are better outside it.

Regarding Historical Park and Ivelin Mihaylov:

• Maria Ilieva describes Historical Park as a "perfect investment" and "brilliant" project, showcasing the greatness of Bulgarian history. She emphasizes its strategic location, high-quality construction, and Ivelin Mihaylov's ability to "engage" 4,000 people in his idea.
• She firmly rejects claims that Historical Park is a financial pyramid, stating that she has investigated it as a financier. Ilieva compares the funding model to that of large companies like Google and Yahoo. According to her, the attacks against the park are unfair and have "frozen" it, not because the project itself failed. Shareholders will seek accountability for the damages caused.
• Ilieva is not a shareholder in Historical Park, as no shares have been offered since 2019, when she became acquainted with the project.

Maria Ilieva's personal motivation for entering politics:

• Maria Ilieva has worked for 20 years in managerial positions in the banking sector.
• She became acquainted with Ivelin Mihaylov after visiting Historical Park, which impressed her. The main reason for entering politics is her outrage at "undermining the authority of a private investment" (Historical Park) by the National Assembly, which she considers irresponsible and improper.
• Her personal motive is to set an example for her son, who is considering leaving Bulgaria due to the poor environment and sense of injustice. She wants to change the environment so that children remain in Bulgaria and have opportunities for development, raising them with Bulgarian spirit and self-confidence.
• Ilieva believes it is time to give back to society, using her experience and wisdom. Her goal is for Bulgaria to become a strong partner defending its national interest on equal footing with other European countries.
• She accepted Ivelin Mihaylov's proposal to help him in "this battle", despite the risks, because she believes in justice and wants to set an example.

Maria Ilieva emphasizes that "Velichie" is a pro-Bulgarian party striving to fix Bulgaria, put it on solid foundations, and make it a strong partner.