site.btaGERB and BSP Did not Agree on Coalition, Discussed Option to Hold Together Parliamentary and Local Elections Next Year

GERB and BSP Did not Agree on Coalition, Discussed Option to Hold Together Parliamentary and Local Elections Next Year

Sofia, October 26 (BTA) - The leaders of GERB and the Bulgarian
Socialist Party (BSP), Boyko Borissov and Mihail Mikov, did not
agree on a coalition on Sunday. The discussions between the two
political forces about solving the serious problems this country
faces will continue openly and constructively, it emerged from
their meeting in Parliament.

"I stated our position that we are in opposition and this is
defined by the results which we achieved in the parliamentary
elections," said BSP leader Mikov. "We will be responsible and
constructive enough regarding the serious problems this country
faces, which require responsibility from all political forces,"
he added.

GERB leader Borissov noted that unfortunately the parties in
Parliament are arranged in such a way, that even the possibility
of a hypothetical coalition could not bring stability. He said
that he even offered Mikov the position of National Assembly
Chair, but the socialists see this as very committing.

Borissov said that his party does not see the government forming
mandate as only theirs. GERB's leader referred to Mikov's
earlier statement that even if the socialists get the mandate to
form a government, they will turn it down immediately,
explaining that this in practice exhausts all other
possibilities.

Borissov said that, given the current circumstances, he is now
even more concerned about the formation of a stable government.

GERB and the Reformist Bloc together still have a minority,
Borissov said, explaining that this is the reason he is
sceptical about the formation of a stable government. The
Patriotic Front acted very responsibly, he said.

According to Borissov, in practice there will be a government
between GERB and the Reformist Bloc with a coalition agreement.
The Patriotic Front would support this programme, at least until
they see fit.

The shared responsibility means that leaders are in the
government, where things are decided. Otherwise, it would be
better for everyone to remain in Parliament and elect a
government of the "Oresharski" type and decide on a date to hold
new parliamentary elections in conjunction with the local
elections next year, for example July 1, Borissov said, adding
that he would not be a prime minister under such circumstances.

The consultations between all the political forces must continue
in one last attempt to form a government, BSP leader Mikov
commented. He noted that the situation, which resulted from the
elections, is complicated enough and points to one short- and
one medium-range horizon, which Borissov already mentioned, so
as to avoid holding elections constantly.

Borissov and Mikov agreed to hold a meeting between the leaders
of all parliamentary represented parties in the next few days.
The two parties also agree about the need to immediately
replaceme the central bank's senior management.

According to Borissov, both GERB and BSP are adamant that the
Bulgarian National Bank's whole Governing Council must be
replaced on Monday, or at least its Governor and Banking
Supervision Deputy Governor. Borissov explained that he does not
have anyone in mind to replace the central bank's governor,
which is why he and Mikov agreed to seek a non-partisan
candidate with the best reputation. GERB's leader said he has
doubts in the central bank's report on Corporate Commercial
Bank. According to him, it is impossible for 4.5 billion leva to
evaporate in one month.