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Bulgaria’s caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov told Euronews joining the Board of Peace led by US President Donald Trump was the result of “one oligarch’s decision” and does not reflect the political consensus in the country.
“It would be an exaggeration to say this is the position of Bulgaria,” he told Euronews Special Report in an interview Thursday. “It was not a question of international politics – it was a personal question of one oligarch who is sanctioned by the Global Magnitsky Act.”
“The signing of this treaty has to do with him being removed from this list of sanctions. I do not think it will work. What is surprising, unfortunately, is the influence of an oligarch in some parties,” he added.
The oligarch in question, although not mentioned by name, is Delyan Peevski. An influential figure in Bulgarian politics from the shadows, Peevski is currently sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom for bribery and corruption.
Bulgaria was one of the few European Union countries to join the contentious Board of Peace launched in January by Trump. The move was pushed by former Bulgarian Prime Minister Rossen Zhelyazkov, and approved just days before his government collapsed following the biggest protests the country has seen in decades.
Gyurov, who leads a caretaker government before a vote scheduled for 19 April, said the national parliament is yet to ratify Bulgaria’s membership and, even if approved, it could be referred to the Constitutional court. Most EU member states consider it is in breach of the United Nations charter, making their participation impossible.
Gyurov said the Board of Peace was initially understood as a vehicle to reconstruct Gaza following the Israel-Hamas war, but as President Trump expanded its mandate to cover the world, it should be reconsidered.
The European Union’s own legal analysis has raised serious concerns the Board’s scope, mandate and structure, pointing to President Trump’s almost absolutist powers as chair without a clear time limit.
“What we wanted to show is that Bulgaria supports an extensive plan for peace in Gaza,” he said. “I do think the other parts of the treaty will be ratified” under the Board of Peace.
Despite the limited role he now sees Bulgaria playing within the Board, Gyurov said maintaining good diplomatic ties with the United States remains important.
“What is important is to preserve partnerships that have worked on both sides of the Atlantic for many years. It is important that we talk,” he told Euronews.
“What is also important is that we have a Europe that is strong and can stand on its own two feet,” he added.
Watch the full interview on Euronews Special Report, available on all platforms.