site.btaPresident Rumen Radev: Parliament Is Working Energetically, Give It a Chance to Do Something Useful

April 24 (BTA) - After launching the initiative "Plant a
Tree, Revive Bulgarian Forest" on Saturday, Bulgarian head of
State Rumen Radev told journalists that the new Parliament is
working energetically on important bills, and the public expects
 decisions from it, so we must give it a chance to do some
useful work, which has already started not only through the
revisions in the Election Code, but also through numerous
valuable proposals that also deserve attention.

Replying to a question as to when he is going to hand the next
exploratory cabinet-forming mandate, the President said that he
hopes the downtime until then will be invested in a dialogue in
an attempt to reach a consensus and form a government that
enjoys the support of the majority in Parliament, and is
centered around clear-cut principles and priorities.

The Constitution does not set a certain period between handing
the first and second mandates. President Radev said that he is
going to make the decision soon. In his words, a balance must be
 found between necessary changes in the shape of new legislative
 amendments, and forming a government, and the political parties
 concerned should declare clearly their expectation with regard
to the formation of a regular cabinet.

President Radev said that it is too early to consider handing a
third mandate at this point, as the fate of the second one is
still unclear, but he expects the political parties in
Parliament and the incumbent government to find the strength and
 show the responsibility to update the budget. Failing to do so
will have grave consequences for millions of Bulgarian
pensioners and workers, and thousands of firms facing
bankruptcy, as they will be left without support right when they
 need it the most. Currently, the budget does not set aside any
funds for this type of support, Radev said.

In his opinion, it is not serious to consider a caretaker
cabinet at this stage, as a parliamentary procedure is underway
to form a regular government. The President said that it is time
 the parties in Parliament gave a signal that they have found a
common language to unite them around clear principles,
priorities and values, for a coalition without a solid
foundation of principles will only deepen the crisis.

***
We all have a duty to protect Bulgaria from barbaric
deforestation, President Radev said at the foot of Plana
Mountain, launching officially the initiative "Plant a Tree,
Revive Bulgarian Forest". The initiative will take place twice a
 year in different locations across Bulgaria with the support of
 schools, NGOs and volunteers.

President Rumen Radev planted a silver birch on Saturday,
continuing the Forestation Day tradition established in 1925.
"Young people are the keepers of this tradition, and today they
are planting not only Bulgaria's future, but also their own,"
the head of State says

RI/MT

/МТ/