site.btaGERB, Reformist Bloc Start Talks on Coalition Agreement Annex

GERB, Reformist Bloc Start Talks on Coalition Agreement  Annex

Sofia, January 20 (BTA) - Working groups of the two partners in the government coalition, GERB and the Reformist Bloc (RB), started talks Wednesday on an annex to their coalition agreement. The two sides hope that more details will be clear over the next 10-15 days so that an agreement can be reached.

GERB believe that nothing calls for serious changes in the existing coalition agreement.

After the first meeting on the annex, the RB reconfirmed their loyalty to the government and their participation in it.

GERB floor leader Tsvetan Tsvetanov said that the annex aims to energize the government and the legislative work of the ruling coalition.

The areas where the two formations agree that fast and tangible steps, and specific deadlines are needed, are the judicial reform, the anti-corruption and elections legislation (following recent amendments to the Constitution), education and health care.

On February 29, the parliamentary legal committee is due to be ready with a report on revisions to the elections legislation, said Tsvetanov.

The two working groups also discussed Wednesday the sectoral policies. Reports on the results that have been achieved so far, are expected in the coming days.

Some texts in a declaration about the government coalition annex which the RB has handed to GERB, need to be revised in the deadlines part, said Tsvetanov. He added that these concern  education and the electoral legislation.

Daniel Vulchev of the RB's Bulgaria for the Citizens Movement said that the declaration aims to show the intentions of the RB as they commence these talks.

RB co-floor leader Nayden Zelenogorski said he personally would propose walking out of the government coalition unless a serious progress is made in the judicial reform and the anti-corruption legislation over the next six months.

He added that the RB will leave the government only if there is a common decision by the whole Right-wing coalition.

Zelenogorski was adamant that this is no ultimatum but an effort to pressure the government departments and Parliament do their job.

He also said that the RB is ready for compromise in all areas "because the government is a complex system, and it is inadmissible to jeopardize the foreign policy and Euro-Atlantic orientation, for example, at the cost of something else".

Bulgaria for the CItizens leader and Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva declined to comment the expectations of RB co-floor leader Radan Kanev for early elections in May, and said one should be judged by his deeds. "What we have started to do in the RB is step up the reforms because this was the mission with which this government was formed. One can always do better and show more ambition but giving up and starting anew with the presumption that time would otherwise be wasted, is not the way to go," she said.