BULGARIA: CHARISMATIC INTERIOR MINISTRY CHIEF

UNCLAS SOFIA 001598

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FBIHQ FOR OIO/EURASIAN UNIT/BARRY BRAUN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM ASEC PINR BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA: CHARISMATIC INTERIOR MINISTRY CHIEF
RESIGNS


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Interior Ministry Chief Secretary General
Boiko Borisov, one of Bulgaria's most popular officials,
submitted his resignation September 14, citing planned
legislative amendments that significantly curbed his
position's powers. In a letter to the President and the PM,
Borisov said his job at the ministry had become meaningless
as planned changes to the Interior Ministry Act removed many
of his powers, including the exchange of information with
international organizations. Borisov's resignation comes
less than a month after the new Socialist-led coalition
government took over on August 22. The new Minister of
Interior, former deputy Socialist-party leader Rumen Petkov,
made clear that unlike his predecessor, he would not remain
in the shadow of the highly-popular General. Petkov
previewed Borisov's resignation during a September 14 meeting
with Amb. Beyrle (septel). The government of Prime Minister
Sergei Stanishev is expected to accept Borisov's resignation
September 15. Borisov's decision made front page headlines
in Bulgaria amid mounting speculations that the he may enter
politics and run for a Mayor of Sofia in the October 29 by-
election. END SUMMARY


2. (U) In his resignation letter, Borisov said that if the
draft Interior Ministry Act is adopted, the functions of the
ministry's political leadership will duplicate those of the
Chief Secretary. The proposed changes broaden the powers of
the political leadership at the expense of the professionals,
Borisov wrote, noting that the minister will have five
deputies, while the Chief Secretary will have none. "Given
the upcoming changes at the Interior Ministry, there is no
place for me there," Borisov said, adding that his opinion on
the bill had not been taken into account. He said he and
Petkov had tried to work as a team but it didn't work out.
Petkov, an influential figure in the ruling Socialist Party,
had put an end to frequent media appearances by Borisov,
whose popularity is in large measure a result of cultivating
a press corps that could not seem to get enough of the
charismatic general.


3. (SBU) The draft Interior Ministry Act, initiated by the
Ministry's political leadership, is reportedly an attempt to
boost the efficiency of the ministry's work and achieve a
better coordination of its services. A significant change
from the current law is that while the Chief Secretary
reportedly retains his formal coordinating functions, all
police and MoI intelligence services will be under the direct
supervision of the Minister. In addition, all police services
would be gathered into one structure, the National Police
Service. Its director, as well as the heads of the counter-
intelligence and firefighting services would report directly
to the minister. Currently, the operation of the services
under the Ministry are coordinated by the Chief Secretary.
In general, the new law, expected to be passed by parliament
in October, shifts the balance of power towards the
ministry's political leadership.


4. (SBU) Borisov, 46, was appointed to the position of
Interior Ministry Chief Secretary in September 2001 by former
Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg for whom he served as a
bodyguard before the ex-king took over as PM in July 2001.
Borisov, who enjoys near-heroic status in Bulgaria,
constantly led opinion polls over the past four years due to
his Armani-clad tough guy image and close ties with local
media, this despite his overall ineffectiveness against
organized crime. He did not miss an opportunity to boast
about successful police operations, especially stressing his
ties with the Western police and intelligence services. To
his credit, he was exceptionally cooperative with U.S. law
enforcement on a number of specific cases, none of which
involved major Bulgarian organized crime figures. His high
profile under the previous government was in contrast to the
former Minister's near invisibility. In a sense, Borisov was
filling a vacuum. His opponents, however, point to his past
connections with strong-arm groups and unsavory business
interests.


5. (SBU) Speculation was rife over the past weeks as to
whether Borisov would run for mayor of Sofia in the October
29 by-election. Borisov said September 15 he would announce
his decision in the coming days. In June, he ran for
parliament on the ticket of Saxe-Coburg's National Movement
Simeon II and won MP mandates in two electoral regions, but
gave up his seat in Parliament to retain his Interior
Ministry job.

BEYRLE