site.btaGERB Will Not Form Coalition with Socialists While Borissov Heads Party

Sofia, November 4 (BTA) - Addressing a regional political academy of the ruling GERB party near Haskovo (Southeastern Bulgaria) on Saturday, GERB leader and Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that his party had never held talks about a coalition either with the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) or the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF). "In order to put an end to the speculations, the GERB Congress on November 26 will adopt a decision to not form such a coalition while I chair the party," Borissov added, as quoted by GERB's press centre.

He specified that the BSP members are settling the scores between themselves by accusing each other of being in favour of a coalition with GERB. "We do not want such an alliance. The internal opposition in the BSP should find another explanation about who it is with," Borissov added.

Commenting on the BSP's intention to table a motion of no confidence in the Government early next year, the PM said that a no-confidence motion is tabled so as to take down a government and parliament and cause new elections. "How do the 'nationally responsible politicians' from the BSP imagine that Bulgaria will look in Europe's eyes with a caretaker government and an election campaign during the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council?", he asked. Borissov described this as an irresponsible behaviour of the opposition and said the motion will be rejected in Parliament.

The PM went on to say that GERB and the State are in a perfect condition. "We have an economic growth of 4 per cent, we gave 700 million leva more for salaries, 1 billion leva for the renovation of schools, kindergartens, water and sewerage, 165 million leva for the Army and police, and 120 million leva for scientific research. We invest in education," Borissov said. He commented that the 2018 draft national budget is good, while the alternative budget drafted by the BSP envisages more revenue but no expenditure. According to Borissov, the investments in Bulgaria are enough and next year the economic growth could reach 5 to 6 per cent.