Lyutvi Mestan

Lyutvi Mestan, who was ousted from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) pasty after heading it for three years, has said he will not take part in a "right-wing political project" of Radan Kanev, the chairman of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) party.

The Bulgarian parliament will convene at its first plenary sitting for the new year on Wednesday.

Bulgarian MPs enjoyed 25 days of holiday after going into Christmas recess on December 19 last year.

The parliamentary represented parties are expected to outline their priorities for the new political season.

Six MPs of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), the second largest opposition party in the Bulgarian parliament, submitted requests for leaving the parliamentary group of DPS.

This was announced by the administration of the parliament, Darik radio informs.

Lyutvi Mestan, the ousted leader of Bulgaria's Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) will formally exit the parliamentary group of the opposition centrist party to become an independent member of Parliament on Monday.

Lyutvi Mestan, the former head of Bulgaria's second-largest opposition party DPS, vowed to stay in politics despite recent developments.  

Lyutvi Mestan, the former leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) who was dismissed in December, is to hold a press conference on Thursday.

Mestan is widely expected to announce whether or not he intends on setting up a new political project after being summarily removed as head of the predominantly ethnic Turk party and expelled on Christmas Eve.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov stated on Wednesday that the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Turkey can not depend on the political crisis within one or another Bulgarian party or the actions of Bulgarian or Turkish politicians.

Lyutvi Mestan, who was dismissed as leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party on Christmas Eve, is to speak to reporters on Thursday, together with five DPS lawmakers who pledged support for him in his conflict with the rest of the party.

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov on Wednesday dismissed comments that the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party, the second-largest opposition, is being used to start a dispute about relations with Russia and Turkey.

Two lawmakers of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party have announced they would join other fellow MPs in leaving the party's group in Parliament.

The development comes after the DPS expelled its former Leaver Lyutvi Mestan, removing him from the chairman's office over the "pro-Turkish" shift the party has allegedly made since he took over in 2013.