site.btaGERB Re-elects Borissov as Leader, Rules Out Coalition with Socialists - Now or in the Future

Sofia, November 26 (BTA) - Bulgaria's ruling GERB party Sunday unanimously adopted a political declaration ruling out a coalition with the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) now and in the future. The delegates to the Fourth National Convention re-elected Boyko Borissov Chairman.

Deputy Chairman Tsvetan Tsvetanov presented a report on the party's participation in politics in the past year, noting that its membership and periphery had grown.

The declaration on GERB's distancing from the BSP comes in reaction to "constant flagrant speculation by the opposition in recent months about 'GERB's coalition plans for the BSP'."

The ruling party argued that there are "insurmountable differences between the two parties' visions for Bulgaria's development, their different concepts of ethics and values; and because GERB is the modern European party in Bulgaria, whose voice is heard in Europe".

Addressing the delegates, Borissov accused the Socialists of trying to thwart Bulgaria's EU Council Presidency in the first half of 2018. "They do not want a successful EU Presidency, and they will wreck it if they can."

Referring to the opposition's plans to move for a vote of no confidence in his government, Borissov asked: "How can they imagine early elections, a caretaker government, no Parliament, and sessions of the European Parliament in the absence of a Bulgarian Parliament?"

Talking about the integration of the Western Balkans as a priority of the Bulgarian EU Presidency, Borissov said: "Now is the time to make progress with this topic, it would be in the common interest." "It would be better to sit at the same table with our neighbours, to work together and leave the more contentious matters behind," he said.

Borissov rejected criticisms that GERB's proposal for amendments to the Constitution abolishing statutory limitations for privatization-related offences were targeting denationalization in principle, and elaborated on this.

"I heard [ex-premier] Ivan Kostov, whom I respect, that they found bankrupt enterprises. We want to go back in time and see which party, at which congress, bankrupted the enterprises," said Borissov.

He described as a populist move the decision that the BSP leader would back the proposed revisions, while the MPs would oppose them.

Borissov urged GERB and its coalition partner, the United Patriots, to mobilize continued support for the government and Parliament.

He emphasized GERB's ethnic tolerance, saying that "Bulgarian Muslims and the other religions are not just our compatriots, they are our friends and brothers". There is no alternative to ethnic peace for Bulgaria as "the smallest ethnic conflict will damage the country irreparably". He said hate speech was banned in GERB and commented that the United Patriots, which have recurrently come under fire for hate speech, are a separate coalition and GERB cannot interfere in their policies.

Along with Borissov, GERB's deputy leaders Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Yordanka Fandakova and Dimiter Nikolov were also re-elected. The only change in the leadership was the replacement of [Justice Minister] Tsetska Tsacheva by Daniela Daritkova on the Executive Committee.

Tsvetanov noted that GERB's membership had increased by about 10,000 people in the last three years. He concluded that the periphery was expanding because the party was on the right track.

He called Tsetska Tsacheva and Plamen Manoushev "worthy party members" because they had accepted to run in the presidential race, though they lost, which he blamed on fake news and manipulation.

Choosing the United Patriots as GERB's coalition partner after the parliamentary elections in March was the only right choice, said Tsvetanov.

Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov said the economy was making good progress. "It could have been better but we wasted time during the transition period. Investment in human capital came too late," he said.

Goranov said Bulgaria's GDP would probably reach 100,000 million leva, which was unimaginable in 2007 when Bulgaria joined the EU with half of that GDP. Consumption growth is nearly 5 per cent and counting. He said it was true to some extent that economic growth was due to outside factors.

Tax policy should not change, low taxes are the attitude of the government to those governed, said Goranov.

"A centre-right people's party like GERB sets greater store by the citizens' freedom to make decisions than by having the government make decisions for them and spend instead of them," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev said: "We need a political environment with adequate messages, where one means one and a lie is a lie. We need to boost the public's immunity and critical thinking."

GERB deputy leader Dimiter Nikolov, who is also Mayor of Bourgas, said the party achieved "colossal successes in local government" in recent years and "a maximum absorption rate of EU funding".

A technical glitch interrupted a video featuring GERB's achievements since it was established. The organizers used multimedia and 3d mapping.

European People's Party Vice President Dara Murphy and Victor Calvo-Sotelo of Spain's Partido Popular addressed the delegates in person. They also heard addresses from Manfred Weber, Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, EPP President Joseph Daul and EPP Secretary General Antonio Lopez-Isturiz.

On behalf of the United Patriots, Volen Siderov said that as the junior partner they took the risk of losing their political identity and of a fall in their approval rating because "the country's future is more important to us".

Siderov assured the delegates that the United Patriots have no differences whatsoever with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and wished the government a successful four-year term which can end early only if the government wants to end it.