Former Socialist Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev admitted that the previous tri-partite coalition had made the word coalition unpopular in Bulgaria and urged the new government to take responsibility for its own decisions. Photo by BGNES
Ex-Bulgaria Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev has stated that his socialist Coalition for Bulgaria party will provide a strong opposition for Bulgaria's new government.
In a speech made Monday, before the voting in of the new Bulgarian government, Stanishev said that "GERB successfully won the confidence of the Bulgarian public in the general elections... now it is up to the leader of GERB, Boyko Borisov, to face up to his responsibility."
Stanishev went on to say that the Coalition for Bulgaria would provide a strong, effective opposition to help stop mistakes by the new government and for the general good of the country.
He added that the Coalition for Bulgaria would vote against the formation of the new GERB government because "our voters vote for a different, non right-wing political program...we do not like the far-right wing Ataka party's links to the new government....and GERB has not provided detailed enough priorities."
Stanishev admitted that the previous tri-partite coalition had made the word coalition unpopular in Bulgaria and urged the new government to take responsibility for its own decisions.
He criticized GERB's decision to not include a European Affairs minister in the new cabinet, suggesting that this would harm Bulgaria's ability to absorb EU funds.
Stanishev concluded that the new government must put forward an effective plan to battle with the global financial crisis and to improve the standard of life in Bulgaria. He also "sincerely" wished the new government good luck.