site.btaAll Four Parliamentary Groups Turn Down MRF's Invitation to Talks on Second Cabinet-Forming Mandate

All four parliamentary groups that were invited by the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) to talks on the second cabinet-forming mandate declined the offer on Wednesday.

The letters of invitation were sent on Tuesday to all parliamentary parties except Vazrazhdane. "From what we have seen in the media, there is no desire for [support for the] second mandate, but we owe it to our voters," said MRF Floor Leader Delyan Peevski. As to Vazrazhdane, the MRF Floor Leader said that "they do not work with this pro-Russian party".

The MRF gave the parliamentary groups until the end of the day on Wednesday to respond.

As the second largest parliamentary group, the MRF is to receive the second cabinet-forming mandate after the prime minister-designate of the largest group, GERB-UDF, was rejected by the legislature on July 3.

GERB-UDF

GERB-UDF Floor Leader Boyko Borissov has declined to negotiate with the MRF on the second cabinet-forming mandate, the GERB-UDF said in a press release on Wednesday.

Borissov's wrote to the MRF: "While we appreciate your efforts as a second political force to form a cabinet within the 50th National Assembly, the differences and confrontation between the parliamentary groups do not provide the foundation necessary to form a stable government."

The GERB leader said he relies on political maturity in the upcoming election campaign as a prerequisite for forming a government in the next National Assembly.

Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria

The Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) Parliamentary Group refused to participate in the talks with the MRF on the second cabinet-forming mandate, it transpired from a letter sent by CC-DB Floor Leader Nikolay Denkov to MRF Floor Leader Delyan Peevski.

"We believe that your approach cannot lead to a government that will work in the country's interests and restore voters' trust in the institutions. Together with GERB you brought about the early elections, now it is your responsibility to set up a government," the letter said. 

The refusal is prompted by a lack of key priorities, including the rule of law, the fight against corruption, reforms in the judiciary, in regulators, a system for conducting fair competitions and full membership in the eurozone and land-border Schengen.

BSP for Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) National Council decided that the party will not support the second cabinet-forming mandate.

"I think the third mandate makes it still possible not to go to other early parliamentary elections, and we have said this more than once," BSP for Bulgaria Floor Leader Borislav Gutsanov said on Wednesday.

Gutsanov commented that regardless of who will get the third mandate, the political entity should have the will to formulate the main priorities of the state and the people and find a way to rally behind itself experts and people who are ready to form a cabinet of national salvation.

"We are ready to support whichever party gets the third mandate - as long as it has this vision," he said.

There Is Such a People

Responding to the MRF's letter, the There is Such a People (TISP) Parliamentary Group said that it would not support a government on the second mandate, TISP said in a press release. "The party is convinced that only an expert cabinet, put together on the third mandate and with broad parliamentary support, can pull Bulgaria out of its political, social and economic crisis," the press release said.

Asked by journalists if TISP has a strategy if they are handed the third mandate, MP Pavela Mitova replied, "Of course".

Independents

"We will not support any government," said Krasimira Katincharova, one of six MPs elected on the ticket of the Velichie party who left the smallest parliamentary group on July 5 thus ending its existence.

"We refuse to participate in such petty political games," she said, asked whether the breakaway MPs would support a government on a second or third mandate.

"Our group will not support any government because there are no constructive forces that work for the interest of ordinary Bulgarians", Katincharova said.