site.btaUnited Patriots Seek Support for Future Cabinet

United Patriots Seek Support for Future Cabinet

Sofia, November 30 (BTA) - The United Patriots have begun political consultations to solicit support for a cabinet if they are handed an exploratory mandate by the President. This transpired Wednesday from a statement by Patriotic Front co-floor leader Valeri Simeonov who spoke to journalists in Parliament.

"We are holding talks with the Reformist Bloc and other parties with the exception of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms and DOST. We are ready to take a responsibility before our voters. We are not sent here to play some political roulette but to fulfil our duty," Simeonov said. He said that as there is a risk that the country is plunged in a stalemate and a crisis, every effort should be made to avoid that although their coalition is growing in strength and will gain advantage from early elections.

The Patriotic Front conditioned their forming a government on the size of the minimum pensions.

"After we receive the mandate, we'll go to GERB and the Bulgarian Socialist Party and we'll raise again our demand for a nationally responsible government of experts and not of political figures," said Simeonov. He specified that this won't be a coalition between GERB and the BSP but that they will name representatives that are qualified.

Simeonov confirmed that they would invite Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov to stay in his post although he was reluctant to do so. Simeonov said that he preferred people from the business circles for ministers and added that he wasn't concerned that he might be accused of catering to business interests and circles.

Simeonov also added that his coalition would support a cabinet of the Reformist Bloc but after clarifying the priorities and the programme of the new government which should be similar to the incumbent one. Simeonov said that the programme which his coalition supported two years ago hasn't failed.

"Very soon it will become clear whether the Reformist Bloc will attempt to implement the mandate," Reformist Bloc co-floor leader Nayden Zelenogorski told journalists in Parliament. He said that now the Bloc are concentrating mainly on the early elections which are likely to be held in late March or early April next year.

"We think that any new government within this legislature should continue to implement the programme of the current government with some small corrections," said Zelenogorski. He said that the Reformist Bloc is a conservative right party, that they favour a conservative budget and they won't back increased expenditures that will undermine the country's financial stability.

Taking a question Zelenogorski said that if the Reformist Bloc accepts the mandate and implements it, it should stay in office for two years otherwise it won't be worth it. Zelengorski said that a term shorter than two years will mean that Bulgaria won't be prepared for the EU Presidency and thus will miss the most important moment in its newest history.