Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov has announced that he will sue presidential candidate Iliyana Yotova for making false statements about him regarding Macedonia. Specifically, Petkov responded to Yotova’s accusations that, during their joint trip to Macedonia in 2022, he intended to alter Bulgaria’s position.

“During my time in government, we succeeded in making the Bulgarian position on Macedonia the common position of the entire European Union. Ms. Yotova attempted to portray this indisputable Bulgarian success as an act of national betrayal,” Petkov wrote.

Four years ago, Yotova and Petkov were together at the opening of the Bulgarian club “Vancho Mihailov,” which was later set on fire and subsequently closed. Yotova now claims that Petkov was preparing to soften Bulgaria’s position on Macedonia. Yotova is currently running for President neck and neck against a candidate from Petkov’s political grouping.