Possible misuse of EU funds: Bulgaria’s ex-prime minister arrested

Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Borissov has been arrested on suspicion of misusing EU funds. A large-scale raid resulted in further arrests of ex-government officials.

Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov was arrested in Sofia late Thursday evening. This was announced by the Interior Ministry in Sofia. It is about the suspicion of misuse of EU funds by the long-time ex-head of government.

At the same time, the former finance minister, the former chairman of the budget committee in parliament and the former government spokeswoman were arrested. The investigations relate to 120 cases of fraud by the EU Attorney General. The private houses of Borisov and the other arrested were searched.

Prime Minister for many years

Borisov was Prime Minister of Bulgaria with his national-conservative GERB party from 2009 to 2021, with brief interruptions. In the summer of 2020, tens of thousands of people at mass demonstrations in Sofia and other cities demanded Borisov’s resignation, who was accused of massive corruption. “Mafia out” was one of the demonstrators’ chants at the time.

After the last of three consecutive parliamentary elections between April and November 2021, a four-party coalition was formed under Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, whose first goal after taking office was zero tolerance for corruption.