site.btaBSP Ready for Dialogue on Third Government-Forming Mandate, Socialists Will Not Support MRF’s Second Mandate

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) is ready to participate in the process of dialogue and search for a solution, regardless of which political force will be handed the third government-forming mandate, acting BSP Chairperson Atanas Zafirov said at a news conference in the party's headquarters in Sofia on Tuesday. Zafirov underscored that the socialists had not requested to be handed the third government-forming mandate. "We declare our willingness to engage in talks with the mandate holder, regardless of who that is," Zafirov explained, adding that the third mandate is a crisis, non-partisan one and a joint attempt for forming a government with it should be made.

BSP floor leader Borislav Gutsanov explained that, firstly, BSP will convene a National Council and then will hold talks with all parties that agree to talk with them on the main issues if the party’s National Council takes such a decision. The socialists said that if it comes to a third mandate to be handed and discussion on the important issues, which are different for the different parties, is held, it would be useful for Bulgaria to form an expert cabinet of national consensus to lead the country out of the difficult political situation. "This is a tough test for the [third] mandate holder, no matter who that is," Gutsanov noted, adding that for his party there are some red lines that cannot be crossed.

Both Zafirov and Gutsanov recalled that BSP’s National Council has decided that the party will not support the second government-forming mandate which will be handed to the Movement for Rights and Freedoms.