Cabinet rotation in question: We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria offer governance memorandum to GERB-UDF

The Memorandum with the main goals of the government in the next nine months., which "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB) offered their power sharing partners from GERB-UDF“, has a specific term of 10 months: from March to December 2024.

The priorities they set are in several areas:

• effective governance
• justice
• fighting corruption
• security

In foreign policy terms, the objectives remain:

• Continuation of Bulgaria's European development and Euro-Atlantic course
• Bulgaria's accession to the Eurozone
• full integration into the Schengen Agreement

The parties to this agreement should be the two largest coalitions in the Parliament: the GERB-UDF and WCC-DB. In the memorandum, WCC-DB have written that the parties consider the first stage of the rotation formula successful both in the field of legislation and the work of the government.

Mechanism of rotation:

• Nikolai Denkov resigns on 6 March 2024, regardless of whether an understanding has been reached on all issues by then
• negotiations with a view to understanding and avoiding elections
• if there is no understanding - elections to be two in one: parliamentary and European
• no minister can be replaced without the explicit consent and signature of Nikolai Denkov and Mariya Gabriel
• on each rotation Nikolai Denkov and Mariya Gabriel change their positions mirroring each other
• the rotation of the Speaker of the National Assembly is at the same time as the rotation of the Council of Ministers
• the rotation of the legal committee happens every two parliamentary sessions
• In the election of regulators it is provided:
• nominating people with professional qualities and proven independence
• no candidates with a strong political profile
• an opportunity for civil proposals
• checking for moral qualities and absence of indications of corruption
• appropriate time limits for all checks and hearings
• a timetable for filling regulators, starting with those whose term of office has most recently expired
• political accountability for nominations
• a ban on floating majorities and deals with other parliamentary forces
• consultations to harmonise the assessments of candidates
• the right to veto proposed candidates from the other side

The Memorandum sets out the terms and principles for electing members of the Anti-Corruption Commission.

• the possibility of public nominations
• evaluation by an independent commission
• sufficient time for public debate
• politically independent candidates

The document also focuses on the activities of the Ad Hoc Committee to verify facts and circumstances related to the activities of the group around Martin Bozhanov as well as measures to curb the abuses of the use of special surveillance devices.

Emphasis is also placed on the continuation of judicial reform with the drafting and adoption of a Judiciary Act:

As regards the Prosecutor’s Office, it is envisaged to limit the possibilities for unregulated interference, to build a vertical structure and to allow judicial review of the acts of the Prodecutor’s Office.

Reform of the services is also listed as a priority. The document describes in detail the measures to increase confidence in the electoral process and further reforms in e-government.