Bulgarian Nationalists Boycott Caretaker Govt Consultations

Bulgaria's far-right, nationalist Ataka party is going to boycott the consultations with President Rosen Plevneliev for the appointment of a caretaker government.

The statement was made Friday by Ataka leader, Volen Siderov, speaking for Nova TV. Plevneliev is launching Friday consultations with all political parties after the Parliament voted Thursday the resignation of the Cabinet "Borisov." The consultations are scheduled to begin at 2 pm.

According to Siderov, Plevneliev cannot form a Cabinet that would revise the detrimental rule of GERB. He stressed the independent caretaker government must condemn this rule and include representatives of the people protesting against the political system in the country.

"Now, the protest must turn much more focused and aim at the President as well. If my party is given the mandate to form an interim government, I would propose to the people from the street to participate. But with this corrupt Parliament, no one is going to give me the mandate," said he.

According to article 111 of the Bulgarian Constitution, the powers of the Council of Ministers shall be terminated by: a vote of no confidence; accepting the resignation of the Council of Ministers or of the Prime Minister, or upon the latter's death.

The Council of Ministers submits its resignation before the Parliament and must keep its functions until a new Cabinet is appointed.

After consultations with the parliamentary groups, the President assigns to a candidate for Prime Minister from the largest group the task to appoint a Cabinet within a 7-day deadline. If this fails, then the President does the same with the second largest group.

The largest group in the Parliament is the one of outgoing Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov's Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB; the second largest is the group of the left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP. Both have already declared they are not interested in forming an interim government.

If the second group declines, then the mandate is given to a third group of the President's choice. If a group manages to appoint a Cabinet, the President tables a proposal with the Parliament to elect their candidate.

However, if all three groups decline, the President must appoint a caretaker government, and then, with one single decree, adjourn the Parliament and schedule a new general election no later than two months after the termination of the powers of the last government.

Plevneliev said Thursday that he will hold the consultations simultaneously with all groups to speed up the procedure and avoid any suspicions about under-the-table bargaining.

He is going to hear their positions on the government crisis and ideas to resolve it.

In his statement one day ago, he made the commitment to conduct the constitutional procedure as quickly and transparently as possible to prevent blocking the work of institutions and the State.

Plevneliev made it clear he did not approve of Borisov's decision to resign and warned the refusal of political parties to form a new government would deprive Bulgaria of a working Parliament that would help iron out the issues that took citizens on the streets. He called on the latter to preserve public order.

On Wednesday Borisov made the stunning announcement he was resigning, grounding the decision on not wanting to see blood on streets and fences around the building of the Parliament. He said he was returning the power to the people who elected him in the summer of 2009.

The breaking news about Borisov's resignation came in the aftermath of large-scale protests across the country against high utility bills, leading to clashes with riot police with many injuries and vandalism.

Borisov told MPs on Wednesday that his party would not be part of a caretaker government.