Lyutvi Mestan

Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) leader Lyutvi Mestan has lashed out at an agreement reached between two of the government-related entities last week to move news bulletins in Turkish from the public broadcaster's national program.

DPS leader Lyutvi Mestan ha called on politicians to start a debate on whether and how to keep the recently-introduced preference-voting system in the national legislation preventing any risk of abuse.

Mestan heads Bulgaria's third-largest party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), dominated by ethnic Turks.

Proposals to reschedule news broadcasts in Turkish hosted by the Bulgarian National Television are dangerous, Movement of Rights and Freedoms (DPS) head Lyutvi Mestan said on Tuesday.

Bulgaria is returning to the stage of pre-democracy and risks deviating from its European path, Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS)'s leader Lyutvi Mestan said on Friday.

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) will be a determined opposition to a government that depends on the Patriotic Front, the party's leader Lyutvi Mestan said Tuesday.

Right-wing Reformist Bloc is the third political force to meet conservative GERB as part of the consultations to form a coalition government with shared responsibility.

The centre-right GERB and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) will negotiate on Tuesday afternoon on the formation and support for new government.

At a press conference on Monday DPS leader Lyutvi Mestan said his party will offer unconditional support for a minority GERB government, but refused to support a government formed in coalition with far nationalist parties.

Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) leader Lyutvi Mestan said Monday his party would throw its unconditional support behind a single-party minority cabinet.

The party's Chairman outlined two worst-case scenarios ahead of Bulgaria: "new elections or an unprincipled anti-European coalition" in which nationalist entities could take part.

Nikolay Barekov, leader of populist party Bulgaria without Censorship, has suggested that the first party to receive the mandate to form a government had to be successful in the attempt.

 "I categorically declare the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) is ready" to be Bulgaria's second-largest political party, its leader Lyutvi Mestan said.

At the party's press conference after the elections, the party's leader also made clear his party would refrain from "non-partnership spells" for the moment and would be ready for any value-based partnership.