site.btaABV to Reconsider Role and Place in Government Coalition over State Budget

ABV to Reconsider Role and Place in Government Coalition over State Budget

Sofia, December 2 (BTA) - The lack of dialogue over the 2016 national budget is unacceptable to ABV, its deputy floor leader Kiril Tsochev told a news conference in Parliament on Wednesday. ABV said that it had proposed several key social measures, which were rejected by the majority. "This forces us to reconsider our role and place in the government coalition," said ABV leader Georgi Purvanov.

Purvanov went on to say that the lack of a serious dialogue between the parties in the government coalition suggested arrogance on the part of GERB, which reminded him of the spring of 2015, when ABV was faced with the choice whether to remain in the coalition. The ABV leader said that for over a year ABV had successfully played the role of a social corrective, but apparently someone didn't want this corrective in the government. Purvanov said that ABV's National Council and parliamentary group are due to meet in order to analyse the implementation of the partnership agreement and a decision will be made on ABV's future participation in the government coalition.

According to him, ABV's principal disagreement with regard to the 2016 budget is the lack of policies. Purvanov recalled that ABV's suggestions were concrete and pragmatic and not populist. He said: "Some parties receive Christmas presents but ABV's much needed suggestions are ignored." According to him, the Justice Ministry will receive 19 million leva more, unlike the Social Policy Ministry.

ABV is represented in the cabinet by Labour and Social Policy Minister Ivailo Kalfin.

Asked whether Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov should resign, Purvanov said "yes". According to him, Ivanov is the main obstacle to a swift, efficient and viable judicial reform, including its constitutional aspects.

Commenting on the security sector, Roumen Petkov said that GERB had refused outright to ensure the normal operation of the State Intelligence Agency and the State Agency for National Security. He said that Bulgaria is the only EU member with unprotected communications. In his words, the budget allocation to the Intelligence Agency is one of the lowest in the last five years.