site.btaVice President: Second Government-Forming Mandate to Be Handed "on Date That Is Best for National Interests"

Vice President Iliana Iotova told journalists on Wednesday that the second government-forming mandate will be handed "on the day that is best for the national interests". She was speaking to the press before opened an international scientific conference on crisis management at Sofia University. 

The Vice President expressed hope that the second exploratory mandate will be handed in the coming days but stressed that it is President Rumen Radev’s decision and authority.

Iotova said that she remains optimistic about the formation of a government. So far, there have only been declarations but no specific proposals from those who hope to receive the third mandate, she added. In her words, there is talk about "everything, about possible alliances and split-ups, but no one has come up with concrete proposals on what should be done in the coming months in the country".

"The Government will have problems with the budget, and it is not clear what will be the foreign policy of the country," Iotova stressed. She further argued that it is not clear after the NATO Summit in Washington on Tuesday what Bulgaria's exact position was.

Asked to comment ideas about a government of experts, Iotova said that she does not understand what exactly the formula is. She expects a new concept to be invented. "Until now, they call it 'an expert cabinet' and now they talk of 'a technical cabinet'. Let's see who will be in it”, Iotova added.

The Vice President believes that stable governments are those in which a clear political responsibility is assumed. In her words, this type of governments can consist of experts, but behind them there should be a clear majority and clearly defined policies.