site.btaUPDATED Outgoing PM Vows to Work to Ensure Accord for Forming Government on GERB's Mandate

Outgoing Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov Friday vowed to do his best to ensure support for the formation of a government when the President offer a mandate to the first political force in Parliament, GERB-UDF. "We have to do everything we can in the next few days to reach an agreement. Whether it is the first or the second mandate, it does not matter. I will personally work to make this happen with the first mandate and I hope that this will receive support from everywhere," Denkov said during a news conference when he was asked to comment the expected cabinet rotation between his Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria coalition and GERB-UDF.

"We have all the prerequisites, all the preliminary information and all the understanding of the processes that are happening in Bulgaria to enter constructively into negotiations and to come out with a positive result," Denkov said of the negotiations between the first two political forces - GERB-UDF and CC-DB. 

He urged the attending reporters to be patient "because we have a lot of work to do". I hope it will be successful," he added. 

"Although in different positions and functions, [Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister] Mariya Gabriel and I have been involved in many negotiations. It is important to enter these negotiations with documents, clear priorities and a willingness to reach agreement. We have input documents, they have been presented by both sides. I am convinced that we are both willing to conduct the negotiations constructively. This gives hope that we will have a positive outcome," Denkov added.

He said that "Bulgaria has a political vision for its development. "We have to become a normal European country, with high incomes, low level of inequality, good business environment, care for the people and attractive for investors," he said. "United we stand strong, divisions make us weak," he added. 

Taking a reporter's question about the country's entry in Schengen, he said that the lifting of border controls for travel by air and sea from end-March is "the first step that brings us closer to the finishing line". "If one is very thirsty, I would rather have a half-full glass than an empty glass," he commented.

Asked about the purchasing power of Bulgarians, he said: "There is clear economic metrics showing that the purchasing power in Bulgaria is increasing despite the inflation and the crisis caused by the [Ukraine] war, because incomes are increasing. The sense of increasing burden comes mostly from the considerable inequality in Bulgaria, which is unusual for a European country." On a positive note, he pointed to the increase of the minimum wage and pension, as well as the social support for vulnerable groups.

Taking a question about the highly controversial dismantling which has started of the Monument to the Soviet Army in central Sofia, the outgoing Prime Minister said that "it is an accomplishment to implement a decision that has been made years ago". He believes that "the monument figures belong in the Museum of Socialist Art".

Mariya Gabriel said at this stage it is important for the two coalitions to agree on the principles, the mechanisms and priorities - and then discuss the government lineup. "It is important to see what has been accomplished, where we have delays and what were the reasons for these delays so that we can find ways to step up the process. And then we will have a framework for the negotiations."

She said the coming days will be crucial for the negotiations on the future of the government.

She also said: "Silence is golden. To give ourselves a chance and see the negotiations go into the details and have a solid groundwork and direction, we need to talk less. And then we have something to say - say it to everybody."

Asked by reporters who will go into her government, Gabriel said what matters for her is "trust, coordination and the decision-making mechanism, which is valid for the finance minister and for any other minister". She said: "The question now is how decisions are made. These need to be discussed and coordinated in advance so that we don't end up in a situation where we learn things from the news media. We need decisions that don't change as the situation changes, and cause tension. They should provide a solid groundwork and the responsibility should be clear."

Taking another question, Gabriel said that there needs to be consistency in the government on the issues of judicial reform, the anti-corruption bill, the constitutional changes, and a new judicial power law with clear powers and responsibility.