GERB AND BSP – 4 SIMILARITIES, 8 DIFFERENCES AND SEEKING COMMON GROUND FOR CORP BANK AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

After more than 4 hours of consultations about a potential coalition government, the centre-right GERB and the centre-left Bulgarian Socialist Party found common ground on only 4 of the main priorities for Bulgaria. This was announced on 13th of October at a briefing following the talks with the representatives of the negotiating teams from GERB and BSP.

They pointed out that they shared the same opinions about the Euro-Atlantic orientation of Bulgaria, compliance with commitments undertaken under international treaties, improving business environment, encouraging investments, joining the European Banking Union and establishing a single Energy European Union. Other priorities, on which the negotiating parties agreed were to restore the confidence of the European Commission in Bulgaria and the payments under European programmes.

GERB noted that no common ground was reached on 8 of the priorities. These include the financial and tax policy, energy sector –Belene Nuclear Power Plant and the prices of electricity.

As regards 2 of the priorities - the issue with Corporate Commercial Bank and infrastructure projects, the political forces found a common position in principle, but serious differences remain in respect of the way they are to be implemented.

GERB insists on the immediate appointment of internationally recognized auditors in the placed under special supervision Corporate Bank and on the basis of the auditors’ analysis and data about the situation, to propose solutions and ways out of the situation.

However, BSP thinks that the management of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has to be changed, as it considers that the BNB management is not only responsible for the Corporate Bank case, but for what is happening in the whole banking system in Bulgaria. BSP representatives insist on immediate reimbursement of the guaranteed deposits.

During the consultations it became clear that both parties were supportive of the South Stream project, but had different positions on areas like financial and tax policy. BSP wants the flat rate tax to be cancelled, whilst GERB thinks that is unacceptable.

18 priorities outlined in GERB election platform were discussed during the talks. Analysis was also made on the 12 red lines, which were part of the socialists’ pre-election campaign.

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