Daniel Mitov Ready for Foreign Minister Role Amid Geopolitical Test in Bulgaria
Daniel Mitov, Deputy Chairman of GERB, has expressed his readiness to assume the position of Acting Foreign Minister
There is no way to form a minority government under the current circumstances in Bulgaria, conservative GERB's leader Boyko Borisov admitted, days after announcing intentions to form such a cabinet.
At the center-right party's first press conference since early elections were held on October 5, he asserted "no cabinet" could be formed without GERB's mandate, since the others were "quite different" in terms of positions.
The “present-day situation” also requires that he should take over as Prime Minister, Borisov added.
Borisov shed more light on the upcoming talks with other political parties on the creation of a government.
He said the three-strong team authorized by the party would have "an exclusive mandate" to negotiate, to make concessions or to leave the talks.
In Borisov's words, support of other parties without participation in the government and ministerial seats "is no real support."
All parties will be involved, but no support for the government will be sought from the Movemenrt for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), GERB's leader was adamant.
The leader also revealed the consultations would involve present-day issues such as the situation at Corporate Commercial Bank (KTB) and the central bank's attitude to solving the crisis.
"It is not my fault that I beat them by so much," he declared, referring to his party's victory in the vote and reminding to reporters his party had managed to win "more than the second and the third political force if combined together".
Asked to comment on the results of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), which came second, he voiced his hope that they "took a lesson" from their low performance in the early elections and wished them "to have their traditionally good results in the next vote".
"It is not a normal thing for Bulgaria's biggest right party to have over two times as much as the left one. This is imbalance. This is why there will be no grand coalition like in Germany.”
He unveiled some of his party's further action with regard to the next legislature, announcing Tsetska Tsacheva, who was Parliament Speaker the last time GERB was in government, will again be its proposal for that position.
As for the problems in the energy sector, Borisov voiced the opinion that members of the state regulator DKEVR should be appointed if approved at least by a two-thirds majority in Parliament, “so that its decisions cannot be commented.”
He added talks should be held with AES-3C Maritza East 1 EOOD and Contur Global Maritsa Iztok-3 on lowering the price for their electricity which Bulgaria is obliged to buy under the law.
Commenting on the caretaker government which has been in office since August 6 this year, he said, “they are very good with some activities, in others they are not doing it”.
Borisov was however harshly critical of interim Defense Minister Velizar Shalamanov and his comments regarding the purchase of new aircraft for the Bulgarian army, reminding “interim ministers should not forget they are clerks appointed by the President”.
“To buy a piece of junk or to boast about a Phantom is insulting to our state,” he explained.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
Bulgaria's largest party GERB and the Reformist Bloc have both taken a U-turn after initially saying they found it impossible to shake hands during the government consultations on Wednesday.
Bulgaria's Central Electoral Committee (CEC) fined the leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) Lyutvi Mestan and MP Hyusein Hafsuzov for solicitation in foreign language, which is forbidden by law.
The new National Assembly is to hold its opening session on October 27, at 14:00 EEST, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev announced.
Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev is set to meet on Wednesday all parties and coalitions entering the new Parliament after the October 5 early elections.
Right-wing Reformist Bloc is the third political force to meet conservative GERB as part of the consultations to form a coalition government with shared responsibility.
The centre-right GERB and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) will negotiate on Tuesday afternoon on the formation and support for new government.
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022