Bulgaria's GERB to Select by Lot 20 MPs Supporting Interim Govt

Iskra Fidosova, Chair of the parliamentary legal affairs committee, and MP of center-right GERB party, has suggested that GERB would resort to a lot to select the 20 MPs that would back an interim government headed by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) or the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms party (DPS).

In a Monday statement, Fidosova explained that the 20 MPs of GERB that would be tasked with supporting an interim government of BSP/DPS would have to be selected through a lot because the members of the center-right party were not expected to be particularly willing to do so.

She made clear that GERB would not come up with or proposals for ministers, deputy ministers or other posts.

Fidosova, as cited by Sega daily, claimed that it was the turn of all parties who labeled themselves as "opposition" to assume power, form a Cabinet within 7-14 days, create some 250 000 jobs, as they had promised at a congress, and increase pensions and the minimum wage.

Earlier on Monday, outgoing Prime Minister Boyko Borisov officially turned down a mandate given to GERB to form an interim government, calling on the two main opposition parties to turn politically responsible and set up a cabinet and hold elections.

He said that he would provide 20 MPs of GERB to support such a Cabinet.

Last week, Bulgaria's Parliament approved the resignation of the GERB government amidst unprecedented since 1997 protest rallies against unbearable utility bills and wide-spread poverty that turned into a civil unrest against the political model of ruling the country.