BSP leader after the consultations with President: We will not support a mandate of GERB, MRF or "Vazrazhdane"

We will not support the first government-forming mandate of GERB, if "We Continue the Change" invites us, we will participate in the second. We will not support a mandate of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) and "Vazrazhdane" if the third is with them, the leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, Kornelia Ninova, said after President Rumen Radev held consultations with the party on November 16.

BSP believes that there can be a government, but that the real negotiations between the parties will begin after the first mandate is handed over.

"The President and I have fine-tuned some details on the important issues for us, especially the budget talks. The president assured that the caretaker cabinet will think about increasing the minimum wage to 850 BGN. It will probably have to go through the budget, but we count this as a good result of the meeting," Kornelia Ninova said.

If the Socialists get the third mandate, they will make every effort to form a cabinet. "We would propose several national priorities plus a social package for the people in the winter," Ninova said.

The BSP and the President are of the same opinion that arms exports to Ukraine are dangerous for Bulgaria and could drag the country into the conflict in Ukraine.

"After the decision of the National Assembly, we defined the coalition that took it as a "coalition of war" - GERB, “We Continue the Change”, MRF, "Bulgaria Ascending" and Democratic Bulgaria have united. Obviously we are on different positions, we were during the term of the cabinet in which we participated," said Kornelia Ninova.

Rumen Radev has not told BSP when he intends to hand over the first mandate to form a government.

The head of state is meeting with all parliamentary parties before handing over the first mandate to form a government. The purpose of the consultations, he said, is to look for common ground and do everything possible to form a regular cabinet.

As part of the government-forming consultations, the President held meetings with the leaderships of the parliamentary groups of GERB-UDF, "We Continue the Change", Movement for Rights and Feedoms and "Vazrazhdane".

President Radev to GERB-UDF: The first mandate holder is viewed with great hope for forming a government

“We Continue the Change” after consultations with the President: We will be the most predictable opposition behind the mandate holder

MRF Leader Karadayi after consultations with President: Dialogue is a possible way to move beyond political crisis

"Vazrazhdane" at the talks with the President: We will talk about forming a government with anyone who understands our positions