Bulgaria’s President holds consultations with parliamentary groups on forming a new government (update)

Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev on April 19 holds consultations with representatives of all parliamentary groups in the 45th National Assembly.

He will discuss their readiness to form a new government after the April 4th general elections.

GERB-UDF

The talks in the presidency started at 09:00 with the largest parliamentary group of the GERB-UDF, which was represented by Daniel Mitov, who is nominated for prime minister by GERB; Tomis

lav Donchev, outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and Desislava Atanasova - chair of the party's parliamentary group.

The responsibility for governing rests with this government until "the keys are handed over to the next government," Radev said. He called for the sustainability of the next government.

The country faces a number of challenges, the coronavirus pandemic has not yet passed, social and economic challenges lie ahead, said Desislava Atanasova. GERB-UDF expect more than just a demonstration of force in the 45th National Assembly, because it is obvious that despite being the biggest parliamentary group, they will be in opposition. We are ready with a proposal for a government, Atanasova said. She commented that they expected congratulations from the President, as they are the first political force, which won the largest share of votes in the April 4 parliamentary elections.

Atanassova said that GERB-UDF are ready both to be in opposition and to govern the country, as well as for a caretaker government. "We have been in such a situation before and, contrary to what we hear someone is trying to convince the Bulgarian people, we are not afraid of probes or checks or a caretaker government. We are also ready for early parliamentary elections," she said.

The head of state pointed out that he was in no hurry to form a caretaker government. He said there should be a government that works regularly, with the necessary support. This is my responsibility under the Constitution. The President is not and cannot be the architect of a future coalition and government, I do not have such powers, said Rumen Radev. The responsibility for forming support for the government lies entirely with the National Assembly and parliamentary groups, he added.

We had an honest and constructive conversation, said Desislava Atanasova after the meeting with President Radev. We also discussed important topics on the agenda - geopolitical, the recovery plan, we discussed this issue in detail. It is extremely important for us to have a working government as soon as possible, Atanasova said.

GERB will not return the mandate, but may not submit a proposal for a new cabinet, it became clear after the meeting.

Daniel Mitov added that they have expressed their will as the first political force to accept the exploratory mandate and make an honest and open attempt to form a cabinet. In the process of talks, we will determine how to handle the mandate itself, whether it will be possible to form a cabinet or not, he added.

In any case, Bulgaria shoud have solutions quickly, given the pandemic situation and economic recovery, as well as the complex geopolitical situation, not far from us, said Daniel Mitov. He called for attention to be paid to hate speech.

There was a consensus that Bulgaria should have a functioning government with solid support, said Tomislav Donchev, outgoing Deputy PM.

The recovery plan has become the subject of political intrigue. The plan has been submitted to Parliament, if the National Assembly mandates the government, it will be sent to the European Commission, Donchev added.

According to him, they are ready to support "There is Such a People" party with "two or three" MPs in order to have stability. We have no desire to delay the procedure, added Donchev.

There is Such a People (TISP)

Shortly before 10:15 am, the representatives of "There is Such a People" - Toshko Yordanov, Filip Stanev and Victoria Vasileva - arrived for consultations with President Radev.

Before them, the head of state said that with their vote, the Bulgarian citizens have assigned an extremely responsible role to their party in the overall political agenda of the country. The challenges facing the country are enormous - the pandemic, the economic and social crisis. The expectations of the Bulgarian citizens are fixed in you, said Rumen Radev.

TISP chair of parliamentary group, Toshko Yordanov, said they were pleased that the Presidential institution was observing the Constitution and
the law.

After the consultation, TISP said that they will not coalesce with the establishment parties. "If there is any possibility to form a cabinet, it is with the other two protest parties," said Yordanov, referring to Democratic Bulgaria and Rise Up! Thugs Out." We will do what we have said before the elections," he added.

Bulgarian Sociliast Party

Rumen Radev told the BSP for Bulgaria that consultations with the them are important for two reasons - thousands of Bulgarian citizens associate their hopes for a more social, solidary and just Bulgaria with the BSP, as well as the experience and wisdom of the left-wing party.

There are hypotheses for a third exploratory mandate, so the President asked how ready the left-wing is to form a cabinet (BSP came third in the April 4th parliamentary elections).

We have a consistent policy and clear, specific decisions on all the issues you asked, said Kornelia Ninova, BSP leader. A stable government is now needed, given the severe crisis. We will not support a government formed by GERB. We would support a government of the second largest political force, “There is Such a People”, but under certain conditions, which include urgent and important steps to overcome the health and economic crisis, steps to support households and the economy, to start a check into the incumbancy of Boyko Borissov, as well as new election rules to ensure transparency of the election process. Kornelia Ninova also said that they have already tabled changes in the office of the National Assembly to help people and businesses.

After the meeting with the head of state, Kornelia Ninova said that BSP would not participate in a cabinet with "There is Such a People".

"If they invite us for consultations, we would support policies if these people make a commitment. If they do not want our support, then they do not want it. We are ready for talks, because at the moment Bulgaria needs a stable government," Ninova said

If we are handed a mandate to form a government, the party's collective bodies will decide the next steps, Ninova added.

Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF)

The meeting with the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) started at 13.30.

We rely on your many years of parliamentary experience and traditions in a very important mission - to find the right balance between the need for urgent legislative changes that engage the energy of this National Assembly, and the very important task - forming a government," Radev said. He stressed that as President he is obliged not to neglect any option, as required by the Constitution.

He did not rule out the possibility of handing over a third mandate to the MRF. I will be grateful to hear your views on the mechanisms and situation of forming a cabinet, your views on the privatization of the most important laws introduced as a bill in this National Assembl, comments on the Recovery and Sustainability Plan ", said Radev.

Mustafa Karadayi, MRF leader said that they will not support a government of the parties that lost the elections

"The MRF will not support a government of the parties that lost the elections. We have expressed our readiness for possible support for a government proposed by the three new parties in the National Assembly," MRF leader Mustafa Karadayi said at the start of consultations with the President.

He stressed, however, that they also shared their priorities, which could be the government's priorities.

Democratic Bulgaria

Consultations with “Democratic Bulgaria” began at 14.45.

"The place of your coalition is important, because through you, the right-wing voter has found representation in this Parliemnt again. The voters assigned you an important role in the 45th National Assembly, no less important role in the country's overall political agenda," Radev said at the beginning of the consultations with "Democratic Bulgaria".

If "There is Such a People" seeks the support of "Democratic Bulgaria", it will be ready to enter into responsible and constructive talks based on their vision of what the new government could be, the chairman of "Democratic Bulgaria", Hristo Ivanov, said.

"At this stage, the solid basis on which to think and on which we must focus our efforts for a responsible attempt to form a government is the mandate of the second political formation. Those who wanted change, in their majority, chose to place their hopes for a new governance to "There is Such a People", he added.

According to him, "Democratic Bulgaria" has its own ambitious vision for resolving the three crises that Bulgaria is facing - health, economic and crises of statehood.

The meeting of the President with “Rise up! Thugs out.” coalition started shortly after 16.00

President Radev said that their presence at these consultations was extremely important, because in this Parliament they represent "a large part of the Bulgarians from the summer protests in 2020 and those seeking stronger social protection and justice".

I rely a lot on your experience and energy to seek the balance between the necessary, I would say, mandatory legislative changes, Radev said.

"You are the initiator of many such changes on one hand, and the time horizon in which to form an effectively functioning responsible government, which will be the real vehicle and exponent of these changes," he added.

"Rise up! Thugs out!" will not support a government nominated by GERB, but would support a cabinet with the participation of the parties of the 2020 summer protests, "There is Such a People" and "Democratic Bulgaria", the chair of the parliamentary group of the coalition "Rise up! Thugs out!", Maya Manolova, said.

She added that with these parties they have full understanding for the implementation of deep judicial reform, changes in election rules and clear support for Bulgarian business, protection of vulnerable groups and last but not least: their common will for a check for possibloe abuses in the spending of funds by the government of Boyko Borissov, ministers, state agencies and eneterprises.

Manolova added that their parliamentary group is a platform of ordinary people, of citizens, and this group was sent to the Bulgarian Parliament to protect their interests.

"That is why we see our priorities in four main directions. The first priority is related to the management of the pandemic crisis, a new vaccination plan and maintaining and ensuring the viability of the health system. The second priority is related to the expectations for immediate economic support for businesses, households, members of the public, vulnerable groups. The third priority is related to the expectation of Bulgarian public to have a stable parliamentary majority, that will carry out judicial reform and the democratic changes that Bulgarians expect. And fourth, people expect a stable cabinet to stand behind ordinary citizens and restore trust in institutions," she said.

After the talks with the other political forces, Radev will hand over a mandate to the largest political force in Parliament - that of GERB. The outgoing Prime Minister and party leader Boyko Borissov has already announced that he will propose a cabinet with Daniel Mitov as Prime Minister, which gives a clear statement about its Euro-Atlantic orientation.

images by Dessislava Kulelieva

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