26/06/09
He gives a chance for development for everyone who has proven that is able to take responsibility, says the majoritarian electoral candidate in Sofia’s 24th majoritarian electoral region. She states that GERB’s MP’s will be just as disciplined as the councillors in the Sofia Municipality.
Monika Panayotova is 25 years old and is the majoritarian electoral candidate in Sofia’s 24th majoritarian electoral region. She is the Chairwoman of MGERB. She has graduated the University for National and World Economy, with an MA in “International Economic Relations”. She had been the Director of “Projects and Relations with Society” in the Economic Policy Institute until last year. She has the command of English and French. Monika is the youngest majoritarian electoral candidate in all of Sofia’s three majoritarian electoral regions. Statistically she is ten years younger then the rest of the party’s candidates for MP’s.
What is the motive for a young person to get involved in politics?
Monika Panayotova is 25 years old and is the majoritarian electoral candidate in Sofia’s 24th majoritarian electoral region. She is the Chairwoman of MGERB. She has graduated the University for National and World Economy, with an MA in “International Economic Relations”. She had been the Director of “Projects and Relations with Society” in the Economic Policy Institute until last year. She has the command of English and French. Monika is the youngest majoritarian electoral candidate in all of Sofia’s three majoritarian electoral regions. Statistically she is ten years younger then the rest of the party’s candidates for MP’s.
What is the motive for a young person to get involved in politics?
I have always wanted to get involved in politics, even after I finished high school. I wanted to study International Relations and fortunately I had the opportunity. However before I found GERB I couldn’t get involved, because I couldn’t find a party, which gave priority to the young and which could attract me with its politics. I think that the main motive that the young need to have when entering politics is that politics is the only way to change the system. When you get involved you can work towards the change you desire and show a good example to everyone else. I never said it was going to be easy, but if more people get involved we could really make a change, otherwise the negative attitude towards politics will never change.
Do you think that the politicians hear the voice of young people between 20 and 30 years?
The voice of the young is heard in our organization, everyone above the age of 18 can express their opinion, but it is also important for that voice to be rich in content. The young n GERB are encouraged to have ideas, initiatives and to express their opinion. That’s why they are initiators and not only executors. There are youth’s who have proven their worth and abilities and are part of the party’s Expert Commissions. They are treated with respect and viewed as equals. I am sure that this behavior towards the young will be continue on a national level if the citizens support us on the 5th of July.
What needs to be changed regarding the attitude of the young towards politics and the politic regarding young people?
Politics regard the young in many different spheres – education, health care and the demographic situation. The problem comes when decisions about the youth policy are taken without asking for the opinion of the young. That’s why the connection is lost. In order to stay connected young people need to constantly express their opinion and from the other side the politicians need to consider their opinions and to reach decisions after they have considered the voice of the young.
How would you answer a critic who says that the young don’t carry experience, which is vital for the work of a MP?
Experience is a child of though, though is a child of action in other words experience isn’t only determined from age, but also from activity. I have been working since my first year in university and I think that we all have seen “experienced” politicians. Let’s give a chance to the new faces.
How can a young MP shield himself from the bad practices we have become witness of in the National Assembly, such as voting with other people’s cards and lobbyism?
I would personally never vote with a card which isn’t mine. I don’t believe my colleagues would do it as well. You can see the discipline in Sofia’s local Parliament. I think that we will carry this discipline over to the National Assembly. Lobbyism isn’t viewed as negative in Europe, but here we don’t have a law for lobbyism. A law regarding lobbyism needs to be created and enforced.
There is an accusation towards all of GERB’s candidates, which states that they stay behind the shadow of their leader. Do you feel in such a position?
I wouldn’t say that I feel in the shadow of anyone, even the opposite. Mr. Borissov guaranties and gives an opportunity for development for everyone that has proven their worth, has been constant and is a responsible team player. He has voted trust in me, which I need to uphold.
The young candidates are certainly not the most popular. What do you think you can achieve before the 5th of July so that you can convince the voting citizens to give their votes for you?
With the help of my colleagues from GERB and especially MGERB I try to be really close to the problems of the citizens, to listen to them and to express my priorities. There are many informational stations in the 24th majoritarian electoral region and we also express our position on the Internet, because that’s the space of the young. The contact with the citizens is the most important, because you always need to listen to their opinion and base your decisions on it.
In the majoritarian system there is a more specific commitment towards the voters. What commitment did you take towards the voters, when commitment would mean achievement?
As a majoritarian candidate I have two main priorities, which are connected to the experience I have: “To prove that Bulgaria can work for the young and with the young”, to make a strategy which will mobilize the potential of the young and invest into it and to create a Law for the Youth. A National Youth Council needs to be created so that the dialogue between the institutions and the young can be optimized and so that the young can participate in the development of the different sectors. The other priority is connected with foreign policy and the creation for a law connected with the “Green Cards”, so that more Bulgarians can gain access to the labor market. There also needs to be better public and parliamentary control related to Bulgaria’s Diplomatic Missions abroad and especially ending the political appointment connected to Diplomatic staff.
Interview made by: Svilen Krustev
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