site.btaEarly Elections Predicted by BSP, Ruled Out by Government Coalition

Early Elections Predicted by BSP, Ruled Out by Government  Coalition

Sofia, May 11 (BTA) - The political forces Wednesday opened Parliament's summer session with declarations. The Left predicted early parliamentary elections, while the government coalition ruled them out.


GERB Doesn't Intend to Call Snap Elections

GERB announced that the only elections for which it is preparing in 2016 are the presidential ones and has no intention to call early parliamentary elections. The government is planning to serve out its full term, Floor Leader Tsvetan Tsvetanov said in the traditional statement at the opening of Parliament's new season.

Tsvetanov said GERB would have its presidential and vice presidential candidates. If they do not make it to a second round of voting, GERB will support the candidates of some of its coalition partners.

Tsvetanov congratulated Kornelia Ninova on her election as leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party. He criticized ABV for its peremptory conduct and the part of the Reformist Bloc which withdrew its support for the government. GERB is paying a steep price for its loyalty to the platforms of its political partners, he said.

On Tuesday, ABV's National Council decided to propose at the party's congress this Sunday that ABV should cease its partnership in supporting the government and withdraw its representatives from it.

GERB's law-making priorities still are judicial reform, the fight against corruption and solving people's problems.

Regarding the judiciary, GERB insists on the adoption of the second part of amendments to the Judicial System Act and of amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure which will limit the possibility of returning cases for further investigation and will guarantee quicker entry of sentences into force.

Tsvetanov affirmed that GERB is in favour of constructive dialogue with all parliamentary groups, and stated that the political elite should make an effort to strengthen the Bulgarians' confidence in it by stepping up anti-corruption policies. "In recent years we have been tougher on our representatives in government than on those of other parties," he said. However, corruption should not be an excuse for a witch hunt, good legislation should put obstacles to corruption practices and should act as prevention, according to Tsvetanov. He reiterated that an increase in revenues is the most tangible manifestation of the fight against corruption and smuggling, adding that this is the real social policy.

GERB will continue delivering its election promise for retrofitting of residential buildings, which will benefit households with over 2,000 million leva. Money-strapped municipalities will be strengthened through amendments to the Public Finances Act.


Mustafa Karadayi: The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) is ready for elections if they are needed for real political stability

Floor Leader Mustafa Karadayi said that if elections were needed to ensure political stability, the MRF was ready to take this option, "the rest is up to you". "Trampling the Constitution has led to the current crisis in government," he said. By adopting the amendments to the Election Code, GERB became hostage to "political blackmail by short-lived political projects in the name of putting off the government's fiasco for a short while".

The MRF firmly opposes the attempt to present the President's veto as a solution to the problematic provisions of the Election Code. It was read selectively and the veto applies to isolated provisions only, said Karadayi.

During this parliamentary section, the MRF will continue working actively, resolutely and consistently for the European and Euro-Atlantic course of development. He said his group would support the joint effort to promote economic growth and all policies aimed at providing a livelihood to the people and stability of the State.


BSP: Bulgaria is in a political crisis, early elections are the answer

Kornelia Ninova, the new Floor Leader of BSP-Left Bulgaria and the new leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, said this country is in a political crisis and early elections are the answer.

The government of GERB, the Reformist Bloc, the Patriotic Front and ABV emerged as an alliance based on personal and narrow partisan interests. Instead of policies, it generated confrontation, rows over the distribution of influence and posts, botched up reforms, floating majorities and insecurity in society, said Ninova.

The Election Code amendments cast light on the inadequacy of the interest-driven club headed by Boyko Borissov, she said. The ruling coalition did not stop at trampling the principles of democracy and the Constitution.

Ninova also commented on the role of the head of State in this complicated situation. He considered it his duty to stand up for the monopolies and chain stores against Bulgarian producers, and then he suddenly woke up to the thought that as President, he must protect the Bulgarian citizens' rights in the Election Code from those who nominated him.

Ninova said that BSP-Left Bulgaria would offer an alternative to this type of government - namely, to create an economy, without which there will be no future for this country.


The Patriotic Front will fight for the rejection of the President's veto on amendments to the Election Code and for "scraping" the MRF off power

The Patriotic Front will fight for the rejection of the President's veto on the Election Code amendments and for "scraping" the MRF off power, Patriotic Front Floor Leader Valeri Simeonov said in a declaration.

According to the Patriotic Front, one of the greatest threats to Bulgaria's prosperity is the division of Bulgarian citizens and setting them against one another based on their ethnicity, as well as the spreading of mutual hatred and intolerance on the part of the MRF and the Democrats for Responsibility, Freedom and Tolerance (DOST).

"We will fight for the rejection of the President's veto on part of the Election Code texts adopted with a sizable majority," Simeonov said. "We will uphold the protection of the national interests and sovereignty against the intervention of other countries in the holding of Bulgarian elections abroad," he added.

The Patriotic Front will exercise constant parliamentary control over the process of constructing a fence along the border with Turkey as a key means of limiting the still real threat of a migrant influx, Simeonov noted.

The Patriotic Front will insist on continuing the removal of illegal buildings in ethnic ghettos. In Simeonov's words, the Bulgarian society should be convinced that the laws apply to everyone, particularly the ethnic groups who have turned their rights into an abuse of privileges.

Another key priority of the coalition will be the fight against conventional crime, which terrorises small settlements.

The Patriotic Front will insist on the strengthening of patriotic education in school and the increase in the share of Bulgarian films, music and audio-visual productions in the programmes of the public media and commercial electronic media.

The formation will keep as a priority the protection of the rights of Bulgarians abroad, who are often subjected to hidden discrimination and repressions, Simeonov said.

The Patriotic Front will continue supporting the reforms in the health care system aimed at limiting the siphoning of the National Health Insurance Fund, the strengthening of the Bulgarian Army's fighting ability and the recovery of the energy sector.


The part of the Reformist Bloc (RB) that supports the Government will not push the country towards early elections

"The majority remains, we will not push the country towards chaos with early parliamentary elections," the RB's Co-floor Leader Nayden Zelenogorski said in Parliament. He noted, however, that this position belongs to only that part of the Bloc that backs the Government.

Cabinet's existence relies on the Patriotic Front's support, as well as that of different MPs from other political forces in Parliament, he said. According to Zelenogorski, the Right-wing partnership with the patriotic family is yet to grow and show results from good governance.

The RB's Co-Chair acknowledged the majority's changed political configuration following the withdrawal of ABV and Deputy PM Ivaylo Kalfin. According to the Bloc, this is a political manoeuvre aimed to serve party interests and regrouping before the elections. It is obvious that ABV, BSP and the MRF are getting closer and the corridor for their brotherly embrace is opening, Zelenogorski said.

Bulgarian Democratic Centre (BDC): Political dialogue is better than pulling out teeth

The political dialogue is better than pulling out teeth. The national interests are neither Left nor Right, said BDC MP Rosen Petrov.

BDC will act responsibly by not bending its attitude towards possible Election Code amendments to narrow partisan interests. "Each one of us will vote freely and according to their conscience," Petrov said. BDC believes in the possibility of finding a solution that can protect both citizens' rights and national security.

Petrov said his party would welcome the adoption of counter-terrorism legislation, decisions to speed up and facilitate legal proceedings, decisions to increase the combat capability of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, amendments that would improve the protection of Bulgarian farmers and those that would stimulate tourism.