site.btaBSP Call on President to Hold Consultations with Parliamentary Forces Before Handing Third Mandate

At a news briefing here on Monday, Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) Deputy Chair  Kristian Vigenin said they expect President Rumen Radev to hold consultations with the parliamentary forces before handing the third cabinet-forming mandate. "One additional attempt at dialogue would be important, and from here onward we will expect to see to whom he will give the third mandate," Vigenin added. 

Earlier on Monday, the head of State handed the second exploratory mandate for the formation of a regular cabinet to Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB), who returned it unfulfilled immediately. Under the Constitution, the President now has to hand the third cabinet-forming mandate to another parliamentary group of his choosing. 

"If we are handed the mandate, we have the responsibility to hold talks, to propose again our idea for the way in which a government can be formed in this Parliament," Vigenin went on to say. "Our approach is the only working one that has not been tried yet" he added. The BSP propose an expert government without political figures and political leaders in it, with a programme that all political forces, if possible, have agreed on, with five to six clear priorities and a set period of being in effect.

The BSP do not intend to give up in advance, Vigenin stated. "If and when that moment comes, we will have to convene our political bodies," he specified.

The chances for a regular government in this Parliament look ever slimmer but nothing is over until it is truly over, Vigenin commented. "It is a another matter whether the next National Assembly will be better than this one," he added.

Asked to comment the prospect of unification of the left wing, Vigenin said that the it would be the kind of things that would offer an alternative to "the disintegration in the State and in politics". "The unification of the Left is a process. We definitely have no intention to go back. Before [a July 26 rally of the left wing at Mt.] Buzludzha, we will hold a symbolic meeting and call on left-minded people in Bulgaria. But there is a lot of work from now on. Let us give a chance to this alliance - not criticize and kill in the bud a good idea as we always do," said Vigenin.