site.btaGERB Leader Boyko Borissov Accepts Mandate to Form Cabinet

GERB Leader Boyko Borissov  Accepts Mandate to Form Cabinet

Sofia, April 27 (BTA) - Boyko Borissov, leader of GERB and of the largest group in Parliament, accepted a mandate to form a cabinet from President Rumen Radev on Thursday.

The prime minister designate has seven days to propose the cabinet's structure and composition.

Earlier in the day, GERB and the United Patriots signed a coalition agreement on joint governance.

GERB Floor Leader Tsvetan Tsvetanov, who is also the party's deputy leader, read out the parliamentary group's decision to nominate Borissov as prime minister.

Handing the mandate, Radev expressed a hope that GERB and its coalition partners would name convincing ministerial candidates and that the government programme would address the Bulgarians' most pressing concerns: security, incomes, justice and the rule of law. "I am confident that your experience will help you," Radev told Borissov, who said: "I serve my country."

Borissov was prime minister twice: in 2009-2013 and in 2014-2017.

After receiving the mandate, Borissov said GERB and the United Patriots, and the government supported by the Volya party, want to see immediate results.

He said: "In the coming days we will look for the best suited, most qualified people who are able to work as a team, because the Bulgarians expect to see things happen from day one in this complicated domestic and international situation."

Borissov explained that it would be very important for the ministers of the interior, social policy, health care and finance to be able to work together for the two parties' programmes to be implemented: to eliminate illiteracy, to ensure quality education, and to force parents to cooperate if they do not make sure their children attend school. He also noted a need to eliminate false claims of disability and the abuse and corruption involved in them.

Borissov argued for teamwork in finance, the economy, investment and the administration because the red tape burden on individuals and businesses should be reduced.

The interior and justice ministries should also join efforts to continue the judicial reform and amend legislation.