President Rumen Radev described the interrogation of Prime Minister Kiril Petkov at the Prosecutor's Office as institutional blackmail. He said he had warned the current prime minister of the danger of revenge if the coalition failed to make a breakthrough with decisive reforms in the justice system.

The head of state said that he expected the leaders of parties in the ruling coalition to stand firmly behind the prime minister in the current situation. According to President Radev, it was an illusion to think that democracy and the rule of law would be restored so quickly, as the process was difficult and mistakes and disappointments were inevitable.

According to him, there is constructive cooperation between the presidency and the executive branch but the presidential institution expects the cabinet to be much more open, transparent and principled in its work, in order to dispel any doubts about behind-the-scenes decisions and actions.