Bulgaria Blue Coalition Co-Chair Dimitrov: We Are Reformist Majority

The parties of the European People Party (EPP) have the much needed stable, reformist majority in Bulgaria's new Parliament.

The statement was made by the co-Chair of the Blue Coalition, Martin Dimitrov, who spoke Tuesday during the official opening session of the 41st General Assembly.

"This reformist majority must be used," Dimitrov stressed, adding the new Parliament also had constitutional majority with the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB), the Blue Coalition, the "Order, Law and Justice" (RZS) party and Ataka - parties that could together bring the much needed amendments in the Constitution and solve the grave problems in the country's justice system.

Dimitrov, who is also the leader of the Blue Coalition parliamentary group, pointed out the most important task would be the reduction of unnecessary expenses.

"By the fall we must reinstate Bulgaria's prestige in the EU and bring back the EU funds. Without those funds Bulgaria will not be able to successfully deal with the financial crisis," Dimitrov stated vowing the full support of the Blue Coalition for measures aimed at eliminating political corruption.

The Blue Coalition further proposed the establishment of two investigating Commissions to probe the last minute diplomatic appointments and deals of the outgoing Prime Minister, Sergey Stanishev, and the Cabinet, and to verify the July 5 vote, especially the issue with numerous polling sections in Turkey and insufficient ones in other countries.

Dimitrov also touched on major energy projects stating the Burgas-Alexandoupolis Oil Pipeline needed to be halted while a foreign investor needed to be found for the Belene Nuclear Power Plant.

The Blue Coalition leader spoke about the establishment of the so-called Silver Fund as secure measure guaranteeing the increase of the retirement pensions.

Other priorities included reduction of the insurance requirements, creating competition in the health insurance sector, and a new Election Act to be completed during the first year of the Parliament's term.