Bulgaria's Borissov Calls for Suspension of Media Grants Amid Budget Controversy
Boyko Borissov, leader of GERB, escalated his criticism of Bulgarian media outlets receiving grants today, calling for the suspension of such funding
All GERB ministers' names are in my head, party leader Boyko Borisov saild.
He made the comment in an interview with daily Trud, when asked whether former Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov will take over the insitution for a second time.
Borisov refused to give an outright answer, arguing it was "not true that the Interior Minister's office is the most important in a government. It is the Finance Minister that is the most important. Then [comes] the Environment Minister."
He blamed the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) for virtually foiling the "German scenario" with Chairman Mihail Mikov's Monday statements.
Until recently, a German-style grand coalition between conservatives and socialists, the first and second party after the early elections respectively, was a widely discussed option.
Borisov, however, was quick to add that it would have been inapplicable here anyway, since there are "a few strong parties" in Germany, while in Bulgaria there are "GERB and a few small parties".
The former PM is now tipped for a second term after Tsvetanov announced, hours after the elections, this was the most natural candidacy.
Some of the remaining seven parties however have voiced resistance to his figure.
GERB won the early vote on October 5, falling short of a majority for a third time in Bulgarian general elections.
The party later proposed to form a minority government, allocating ministerial seats to any other parliamentary force that chooses to endorse its policies.
Bulgaria's largest party GERB and the Reformist Bloc have both taken a U-turn after initially saying they found it impossible to shake hands during the government consultations on Wednesday.
Bulgaria's Central Electoral Committee (CEC) fined the leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) Lyutvi Mestan and MP Hyusein Hafsuzov for solicitation in foreign language, which is forbidden by law.
The new National Assembly is to hold its opening session on October 27, at 14:00 EEST, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev announced.
Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev is set to meet on Wednesday all parties and coalitions entering the new Parliament after the October 5 early elections.
Right-wing Reformist Bloc is the third political force to meet conservative GERB as part of the consultations to form a coalition government with shared responsibility.
The centre-right GERB and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) will negotiate on Tuesday afternoon on the formation and support for new government.
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