GERB Leader Tsvetanov: We Will Live up to Bulgaria's Expectations

The winner in the 2009 general elections, Bulgaria's GERB party, vowed Tuesday to give society much more than what they have been receiving until now.

The statement was made by the leader of the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, who spoke during the official opening session of the 41st General Assembly.

Tsvetanov, who is also the temporary Chair of the GERB parliamentary group until he assumes the post of Interior Minister, pointed out that over 2 million Bulgarian voters cast their ballots for a new rule and for general change.

The GERB leader was the first one to address the Members of the Parliament after Professor Andrey Pantev's keynote speech. He outlined the party's policies of fight against corruption, transparent rule and clear perspectives for the country and each individual citizen.

"In the last 20 years the Bulgarian society often lost its direction, laws were replaced by schemes that were bringing piles of cash to parties' headquarters. This is why on July 5 people voted to put a halt on all those irregular practices," Tsvetanov said, adding every single attempt to violate the law would be sanctioned accordingly.

The GERB leader pointed out the political trust in his party was earned and will be justified with hard work.

Tsvetanov explained that swift and urgent measures were needed to limit the negative effects of the global crisis, to halt the draining of the State's resources and to update the budget. The first measures will include amendments to the code of the Parliament's work, reducing the number of Parliamentary Commissions and increasing the efficiency of the administration to be followed by legislative measures to reform the sectors with the most problems.

The GERB leader announced that public and open consultations with other parliamentary groups were forthcoming and GERB would present a Memorandum for Political Partnership. During those consultations GERB will propose main priorities and seek the support of other groups on a principle political base instead of coalition agreements that guarantee parliamentary back-up.

"Change must begin within us. I wish success to the 41st General Assembly. It is time to get to work so that we demonstrate that Bulgaria can," Tsvetanov concluded.