site.btaBSP Will Return Mandate for Cabinet Formation

BSP Will Return Mandate for Cabinet Formation

Sofia, November 18 (BTA) - Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader Kornelia Ninova said her party would return a mandate for cabinet formation within this Parliament and would not participate in a cabinet if invited by the third political force which will be mandated.

Ninova made this statement after meeting with President Rosen Plevneliev, who continued consultations with the parliamentary groups on Friday following the resignation of Boyko Borissov's cabinet. The head of State conferred with the BSP-Left Bulgaria parliamentary group, represented by Floor Leader Kornelia Ninova, her deputies Angel Naydenov and Roumen Gechev, and Georgi Turnovaliiski and Filip Popov, the group's secretaries.

At the start of the meeting Plevneliev said that one of the issues to be discussed is whether the parliamentary forces see possibilities to form a new government within this Parliament. Plevneliev called for a solution so that the government's resignation does not entail a dissolution of Parliament. "I believe that the Constitution obliges us to make an effort to this effect," he added.

Plevneliev also said that if the formation of a new government in any legitimate format is possible, he would hail these efforts, adding that the most recent surveys show that people are reluctant to have new elections.

The head of State congratulated the BSP on their good showing at the presidential elections and the high confidence they received. He voiced a hope that the public's confidence would be utilized and fleshed out.

Ninova also said after the meeting that this Parliament has run out of capacity and popular confidence and that early elections should be organized as soon as possible. "The BSP does not believe that this majority or other majorities in the present Parliament can form a stable government," said Ninova. "If we win the popular vote to run the country [at early elections], we will assume responsibility. We cannot do this now with 38 MPs."

The BSP-Left Bulgaria will not name ministers or participate in the formation of a caretaker cabinet in any way, Ninova said, adding that this power is vested in the head of State. Asked if Plevneliev should discuss a caretaker cabinet with the President-elect, Ninova said she could not speak for Rumen Radev.

Discussing Parliament's priorities with Plevneliev, the BSP representatives raised the issue of Election Code amendments and the need to reach agreement on sensible revisions meeting people's expectations.

Other priorities are the passage of the 2017 State Budget Bill on second reading, amendments to the State Ownership Act, and a Food Bill to protect Bulgarian producers, as well as several other laws concerning the economy, which the Left believes can be adopted by this Parliament.