site.btaPresident and Prime Minister Hope Next Government Will Be Formed Quickly after Elections

President and Prime Minister Hope Next Government Will Be Formed Quickly after Elections

Sofia, March 26 (BTA) - Bulgarian leaders cast their ballots in Sunday's early parliamentary elections and made remarks to the media.

President Rumen Radev said: "I voted with the hope of every Bulgarian for a better, modern and prosperous Bulgaria. It is up to all of us." Radev voted in a polling station at the MacGahan Transport School in Sofia.

Taking a journalist's question, he said the government has taken all necessary measures to ensure that the elections proceed peacefully. Asked about voter turnout, the President said it was up to the political parties to encourage voters to go to the polls and the caretaker government has created all necessary conditions.

Radev hopes that the next government will be formed quickly after the elections. "After all skirmishes between the parties and all the grave accusations, I hope they will show reason and responsibility to the nation, and even at the expense of compromise, which is inevitable in this situation, we will have a government put together as soon as possible," he said.

The head of state added that he is ready to take all actions prescribed by the Constitution in order to hold consultations and award a government-forming mandate. "It all depends on how quickly the Central Election Commission processes the results and on the parties' will and responsibility," Radev said.

Caretaker Prime Minister Ognian Gerdjikov expressed his hope that the next regular government will become a fact about a month from now. Having cast his ballot in a polling station at the Mechanical and Electrical Technology School in Sofia, Gerdjikov said he voted "for things to get better."

The Prime Minister commented: "There are many people who are pessimistic and believe that nothing is happening and the country is getting worse. These people ought to remember what Bulgaria looked like 20 years ago and see the huge difference. We should not be so pessimistic. We are having normal elections and we will elect whoever we consider most suitable to rule us - and I hope in a better way than earlier governments."

Asked by a reporter whether he is prepared to stay on as caretaker Prime Minister if necessary, Gerdjikov said he must be prepared for that because he cannot do things halfway. Asked whether Bulgaria will have a regular cabinet after these elections, he said: "We must have a regular cabinet because not having one is not good for anybody."