site.btaUPDATED President: Date of Cabinet Resignation Has Been Known for 9 Months, Sudden Outbursts of Opposition Are Not Met with Approval by People

The Government had nine months in which it was clear when the date of the resignation would be; nine months in which they allocated both power and resources and "soldered" the assemblage [a term used to describe the ruling majority that often carries a negative connotation], President Rumen Radev told journalists in connection with the negotiations between GERB-UDF and Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria for a joint future government. 

"Any demonstrations of muscle, sudden outbursts of opposition are not met with approval by the people," Radev said. "Many people have already stopped caring because of endless disputes, endless quarrels... The parties themselves are silent at the moment about the negotiations and I think that is right. I hope with the consultations from Monday we will have more clarity," the President added.

Asked whether he was considering a potential future caretaker prime minister if a regular cabinet was not formed, Radev said that the biggest problem in such scenario will be the lack of responsibility. With these constitutional amendments, who will be responsible for this caretaker government, the head of State asked. "I have a limited choice of a few people from whom I have to choose a prime minister, he has to choose ministers I do not know how, and I have to legally take some responsibility for them with my signature, without having chosen them," he stated.

"I expect the Government, regardless of the outcome of the negotiations, to guarantee the security of Bulgarian citizens," the President noted when asked to comment on the cases of conflict situations between Bulgarians and foreigners in recent days. "It is unacceptable that the Government cannot guarantee the security of Bulgarian citizens in the centre of Sofia. What can we imagine for the other places in the country. This makes people doubt all this talk that the migrant flow has been curbed, that we have effective protection of the Bulgarian border, that the return of unwanted migrants from Europe to our country will have no consequences on our security," he pointed out.

The head of State is in the village of Gorsko Slivovo (Northern Bulgaria) on the occasion of the Day of the Rescue of the Bulgarian Jews to pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust.