site.btaPresident Plevneliev Will Likely Hand Government-forming Mandate to Right-wing Reformist Bloc

President Plevneliev Will Likely Hand Government-forming Mandate to Right-wing Reformist Bloc

Sofia, December 3 (BTA) - President Rosen Plevneliev said on a Bulgarian National Television talk show on Friday that the Right-wing Reformist Bloc would be the most logical choice for him to hand an exploratory government-forming mandate.

Plevneliev said he assumes that the Bulgarian Socialist Party will return the mandate, despite his desire that a serious attempt be made to form a government within the 43rd National Assembly, which he does not believe to be exhausted. The third exploratory mandate will be his last, Plevneliev said, adding that he will not hand it to political forces that are unable to convince him with arguments that the direction in which he had worked will be maintained. "For me, the logical choice would be the Reformist Bloc. Of course, I am not saying this with 100 per cent certainty, but with a high degree of probability," the President said.

"As President, I am already bearing my big responsibility, because we are in a constitutional procedure. Let that be clear, because once again a number of public figures, including some politicians, said that the President should stop here and leave it up the next president to complete the constitutional procedure. (Well) now it is expected from the head of State to stop for the next 50 days until January 22, not do anything, write his memoirs, in a situation where there is a political crisis which is obviously growing into a parliamentary one. I am not that head of State and I have never acted in such fashion. I continue being myself. Each and every deadline will be met as set under the Constitution," Plevneliev said.

The President further noted that he is firmly against the two-round majoritarian system for parliamentary elections, adding that this would not lead to anything good for Bulgaria. Rushing things would be tragic and have dramatic consequences for the Bulgarian statehood. "When some screenwriters (referring to the TV show team that initiated the election rules referendum) vilify the Constitutional Court, who are tearing up the head of State's photograph, who are saying that green pants must be worn, what do we do with those wearing blue or red pants? Send them to Auschwitz? I am starting to worry. There is a problem here and this problem should not be swept under the rug," the President said.

Plevneliev denied the statements that he is getting ready to run for EU commissioner.