site.btaUPDATED President to Hand Second Cabinet-forming Mandate Next Week

President Rumen Radev will hand over the second exploratory mandate for the formation of a regular government next week, he told journalists here on Friday. Expected to receive the mandate is the prime minister-designate of Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) as the second biggest parliamentary group at the moment.  

Under the Constitution, the head of State is to hand the second cabinet-forming mandate to the second biggest parliamentary group. Until Thursday, that group was the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), but the expulsion of 17 MPs resulted in the MRF becoming fourth in size in the 50th National Assembly. The first cabinet-forming mandate failed last week, when on July 3 Parliament denied approval to GERB-UDF's prime minister-designate Rosen Zhelyazkov.

Radev Friday called on the MPs to "reflect in depth on the dynamics of the political processes and to make efforts to bring common sense back to the National Assembly." He pointed out that Parliament will be able to elect a sustainable majority only if the parties are able to identify and unite around national interests. Otherwise, the political crisis will escalate, the head of State added.

He said he takes into account the parliamentary dynamics in recent days and the need for time and dialogue. "But I also expect the new second largest parliamentary group - that of CC-DB - to clearly state whether it will remain behind its declarations that it will be the opposition in the 50th National Assembly, or will seek support for forming a government," Radev said. "That is why, as you can see, I am in no hurry and will hand the second mandate next week," he added.

The head of State commented that what is happening in the MRF and every single thing that is happening in the parties affects the political situation. "You know I have repeatedly said that I do not interfere in the kitchen of political parties. And every political party should have the freedom to decide its own internal issues," Radev underscored. 

Asked to comment on the claims of MRF Honorary Chairman Ahmed Dogan that the prosecution service has been used for pressure and threats, Radev said that there are bodies and institutions to check all these alerts.