Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) Sunday gave a briefing following an earlier evening briefing of GERB-UDF, during which the latter commented on the government formation negotiations between the two parties, saying that GERB-UDF will return right away the government-forming mandate to the President on Monday if CC-DB are not willing to share power. In response, CC-DB told the media that negotiations have not failed, and that GERB-UDF can accept the exploratory government-forming mandate from the President and return it after a week's time.
CC co-leader Kiril Petkov said that nothing is lost and deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel can accept the mandate on Monday after which there will be a week to propose a government.
He urged Gabriel for the agreement between the two political formations to be finalized and reforms in three sectors to be defined. "Let's continue governing and not put the country in crisis," Petkov stressed.
"Nine months ago we had a word between us and [GERB leader] Borissov that the agreement was for 18 months. We are grateful for this offer and we are ready to keep this promise. So the next cabinet will continue for another nine months," Petkov said.
In his words, GERB-UDF have asked for Gabriel to be prime minister, while she continues being foreign minister. According to Petkov, GERB-UDF wanted the Interior Ministry, the Innovation Ministry, the Environment Ministry, the Education Ministry and the Culture Ministry.
The most important thing is the reforms, not the ministers, Petkov noted.
DB co-leader Hristo Ivanov
"What is happening right now is unnecessary," Democratic Bulgaria co-leader Hristo Ivanov commented.
He pointed out that in a declaration some time ago priorities were stated - such as regulators, judicial reform, the security sector and the fight against corruption. "At this stage, we think it is good to have a signed document that would regulate our commitments and make it clear to the people that there will be reforms in these areas," Ivanov said.
He explained that a detailed document has been drafted together with the GERB-UDF. "We are ready to publish this document and people should understand that real care has been put into it. We hope it will be signed because we have gone through it three times. If there are specific considerations, we are ready to work instead of giving news briefings. There was no reason to give up on finishing and signing this document tomorrow [Monday]," Hristo Ivanov said.
"We have no right to look like we have no will for reforms. We want to bet on the principle that the best will be elected as regulators," Ivanov said.
According to him, there should be competition and clear checks, and restrictions for political figures and each side should be able to veto appointments in the regulators.
"If we do not sign this agreement, it will be a severe blow which will affect everyone," Ivanov said.
CC-DB co-leader Atanas Atanassov
CC-DB co-leader Atanas Atanassov called on GERB leader Boyko Borissov to intervene because "he makes the final decisions. I have no explanation why the negotiations are stalling tonight," he said.
Atanassov advised Gabriel not to return an empty folder, referring to the exploratory mandate, and for the talks to continue on Monday morning.
CC co-leader and outgoing Finance Minister Assen Vassilev
CC co-leader and outgoing Finance Minister Assen Vassilev said he was moderately optimistic until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday because the negotiations were on their final stretch. It then became clear that the signing of the agreement was postponed indefinitely. This is the reason why there is a crisis in the negotiation process. If the agreement is signed with adjustments, then there will be no dispute over the composition of the Council of Ministers, Vassilev said.
This agreement provides that there shall be no process to appoint people in the regulators, who would obey political parties. Thus, Bulgaria would end its transition (from its totalitarian past to democracy) and the last institutions would enter into a European mode, Vassilev said.
"I strongly believe that we will find the right language for a common agreement," he said.
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