site.btaGERB Gets Exploratory Mandate for Government Formation

GERB Gets Exploratory Mandate for Government Formation


Sofia, November 5 (BTA) - President Rosen Plevneliev presented
on Wednesday an exploratory mandate for formation of a
government to GERB, which has the largest group in the new
Bulgarian Parliament. The mandate went to GERB leader Boyko
Borissov who has been nominated by his party for Prime Minister.

Borissov's nomination was approved at talks between GERB and the
Right-wing Reformist Bloc (RB) on Tuesday, along with a
tentative structure and composition of the future government.

GERB and the RB had hoped that their government would have
parliamentary support from ABV and the nationalist Patriotic
Front (PF) but late on Tuesday the latter stepped back from
earlier promises arguing that a draft programme put forward by
GERB and the RB does not include major PF priorities - contrary
to GERB's earlier promises.

"Before the end of this day we will know whether we will be able
to form a government and it will be clear whether we will
return the government mandate or propose a government," Boyko
Borissov said.

Borissov complained that while everybody says publicly that they
want a government and stability, they place stumbling blocks
that made stability impossible.

"Clearly, the Bulgarian Socialist Party does not want to
participate in coalitions - that is understandable. Clearly, we
don't want the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) to support
the government; we ask them not to vote for the government, if
we put forward one. This gives rise to speculations and
encourages my opponents to come up with various scenarios. All
the other parties are free to decide as they please," said
Borissov.

He thanked the Reformist Bloc for the compromises they have made
- just as GERB did. "In the centre-Right, we are all aware than
GERB and the RB can reach a compromise. We donТt completely
like them and they don't completely like us but this is how
things are."

Asked by a reporters what GERB would do if the MRF support the
government, the GERB leader said he would give the government
mandate back to the President.

Borissov, however, assured MRF that GERB would prevent anything
that might torpedo ethnic tolerance and cause an ethnic
conflict.

President Rosem Plevneliev said as he presented the government
mandate to Borissov, that the coming hours and days are crucial
for Bulgaria. "These will be days of compromise and leadership,"
he said. The coming hours and days will make it clear whether
the declarations of political parties for more stability "will
be filled with content".

"I believe Bulgarian people donТt want new elections. They want
leadership and a stable government," said the Head of State.

He also said that "coalition is not a dirty word" but a part of
the democratic procedure.

He wished Boyko Borissov good luck in finding a formula for
stability and sustainability in Bulgaria.

Taking a reporter's question, Borissov said that he was ready to
support RB's Radan Kanev as Prime Minister or even a different
GERB candidate for the job of government leader - but had fears
about the consequences of refusing to become the Prime Minister.
That, according to him, would have implied that the government
was a front for somebody else, would have sent a message of
instability to the supporters of the centre-Right and a message
to Brussels that he shuns responsibility in a difficult
situation. "This would have made the government unstable from
its inception."

Commenting specific ministerial nominations, Borissov said that
caretaker Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov was proposed for the
office of Justice Minister in the future government by the RB
and GERB believe he makes a fine government member, all the more
so that the judicial [reform] strategy which he has proposed
enjoys the support of Brussels. Plevneliev added that Ivanov is
a successul minister.

Of Vladislav Goranov who has been nominated for Finance Minister
but who has been spotted in the company of the much
controversial MP Delyan Peevski, Borissov said that the party
has no reason to question his expertise and loyalty, and that he
could have taken care not to be seen in public with Peevski, if
he had had a hidden agenda with him.

He said of ABV's Ivailo Kalfin, who has been reported on the
list of ministers in the future government, Borissov said that
he has undeniable reputation, has been involved in budgeting in
the European Parliament, enjoys Brussels' confidence and would
make "a solid bridge" to the EU Commissioners who have been put
forward by the Party of European Socialists.

Asked to comment likely support from the Bulgarian Democratic
Centre of MEP Nikolai Barekov, the GERB leader said that he had
a call from Jeoffrey van Orden offering the Consevatives'
support for the future government and suggesting a new meeting
between GERB and the Bulgarian Democratic Centre on the
government programme.

Borissov's reply to this offer is that his party would first
wait to see the outcome of talks with the Reformists, the
Patriotic Front and ABV.

On their way out of the President's Office, the GERB
representatives were confronted by a group of protesting
depositors of Corporate Commercial Bank who chanted "Mafia!".