The Bulgarian Socialist Party has refused to participate in a coalition with Simeon II National Movement (SIINM) and will begin Sunday third government formation mandate talks.

The information emerged from Socialist leader Sergey Stanishev. We will begin discussions on the execution of the third mandate, he said.

Stanishev explained that his party will meet with the centrist movement, the predominantly ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms and rightist Bulgarian People's Union. In his words, many political factions, including the outgoing incumbents, regard the second mandate as doomed to failure. Besides, the Socialists are not satisfied with the king's party's answers to the list of 12 questions the leftists sent them earlier this week, he pointed.

Stanishev also said SIINM leader and outgoing PM Simeon Saxe-Coburg has proposed an unacceptable government formation scheme. In his words, it contradicts the Socialist view that the country needs a speedy formation of a stable government.

The Socialist leader also pointed that his party has been satisfied with only two of Saxe-Coburg's answers. These are the points where SIINM states it will not participate in a coalition with nationalist Attack and states a stable government cannot exist without the Socialists.

Stanishev said the talks with the three parties must end with an agreement before the third mandate is handed. He set a deadline at the end of next week.

The left-wingers are taking the government formation initiative in their capacity of the largest political force in parliament. Under the Bulgarian Constitution, President Georgi Parvanov must pick a party to receive the mandate.

The former king's party announced Friday it would refuse to receive the second mandate unless backed by the Socialists. It also agreed on the replies to the Socialist list during a meeting of its political council. The move continued the exchange of letters that replaced political dialogue between the two political powers over the last few days.

The Socialists sent a letter containing 12 questions to the outgoing incumbents and bearers of government mandate. Signed personally by Socialist leader Sergey Stanishev, the letter said consultations may continue only after a written reply Saxe-Coburg.

Parliament failed to approve Stanishev's draft cabinet hours after it elected the Socialist leader PM. The Socialists had formed a minority coalition with the predominantly ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms. The former king's party withdrew from the coalition in the last minute.

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