site.btaPresident Radev Hands Government Mandate to Continue the Change

Sofia, December 11 (BTA) - President Rumen Radev handed an exploratory mandate for the formation of a government to Continue the Change, the biggest political force in the new Bulgarian Parliament. They get the mandate a day after a government coalition agreement was signed with three other groups in the legislature: There Is Such a People, Bulgarian Socialist Party and Democratic Bulgaria.

The mandate was accepted by Kiril Petkov, the Prime Minister-designate of Continue the Change, and he told the President that he is ready to fulfill it.

The President said as he handed to Petkov the exploratory mandate: "You and your coalition partners have the responsibility to dismantle a vicious power model, to deal with corruption and lawlessness, with inequality and injustice, and state capture."

He told Petkov he has already had a chance to see for himself "how deep is the deep state what guards the privileges and impunity of corruptors".

"In your efforts, your main resource will be people's support. I believe you are ware that if you fail to carry through healthy and decisive reforms in the prosecution services and the judiciary during your first 100 days in office, the coalition won't have a chance to win the battle for the future of Bulgaria because the battle for the rule of law will be decisive for all other battles," said Radev.

He added that other challenges are the struggle with poverty and standing up for the Bulgarian national interests, and these need to be among the top priorities of the future government.

Kiril Petkov thanked the President for the honour and responsibility to accept the mandate. He also said: "You started the change in the square [during anti-corruption protests] several months ago and now is the time to finish the job together. It is time, after 32 years, that Bulgarian people saw powerholders who care for them. It is time young Bulgarians abroad saw Bulgaria as a promising place to return to, and our grandfathers and grandmothers, mothers and fathers saw Bulgaria as a place where they can have a worthy pension and live their old age with dignity." He said the entire coalition will do its best to deliver on this promise.

From now on, every day will count, also said the Prime Minister-designate. "We won't waste a day and hour. The government will hopefully become a reality on Monday and we will keep up this pace for the next four years."

Containing electricity prices and COVID crisis: key priorities

Speaking to the press on his way out of the President's Office, Kiril Petkov said that containing electricity prices and the COVID crisis will be among the top priorities of his government.

"Electricity bills are putting immense pressure on businesses and we should not allow them to go as high up for household users as well. The second step will be finding a lasting way to handle the COVID crisis," he said. He added that they will seek the top experts to help the Bulgarian authorities convince people - not force them in any way - that it is important to get vaccinated.

The Prime Minister-designate said that one of the first laws they hope to change has to do with the judiciary and the asset forfeiture commission. He expressed hope that "a successful anti-corruption committee" will be formed in Parliament.

Taking reporters' questions about the accountability of the government ministers, he said that "each coalition partner will be responsible for their ministerial nominations but they will have a shared responsibility to deliver on the promises".

Petkov hopes for good communication and coordination between the four partners. He said that "there are some differences, including ideological, but the problems of the country are so significant and acute that the differences will be left behind while the priority tasks are being tackled".

He reiterated the dissatisfaction of the coalition forces with the work of Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev but said that the division of powers does not allow them to say that Geshev "must step down".

They have, however, repeatedly urged him to do so.

"Through strong institutions and regulators that start doing their real job, I hope the change in the judiciary will happen," said Petkov.

Asked about their plans for constitutional changes, he said that this remains a long-term task. "But voters are impatient and so are we. We will do our best, with the majority we have, to change the system wherever it needs changes."

More specifically, he said that the coalition lawyers are analysing each law that needs changes and mentioned as an example the plans for changing the leadership of the asset forfeiture commission, for which a constitutional majority of two-thirds of the votes is not required. "In other words, we will start where we have control, and where we donТt, we will work with the regulators to try to make a change".

He reiterated that even though the government coalition has zero tolerance for corruption, this country can't achieve zero corruption without having a working prosecution service.

Asked about a possible influence from the President who "keeps a quota of caretaker ministers in the future government", as reporters put it, Petkov said that once a government minister in sworn in office, they become accountable to the Prime Minister. "It will no longer matter where they came from."

He said, though, that he hopes to continue to have the constructive work and dialogue with the President as they have now. "The two institutions need to work together and speak with one voice, especially before our international partners," Petkov added. LN//