TISP, Independent MPs Seek Common Ground for Cabinet Formation

Dimitrina Solakova

MPs of There Is Such a People holding talks with independent MPs in the 50th National Assembly on the formation of a government (BTA Photo/Milena Stoykova)

Sofia,

30.07.2024 21:21

(BTA)

On Tuesday, There Is Such a People (TISP) held talks with two groups of independent MPs in the 50th National Assembly in a bid to enlist support for the formation of a cabinet on the third and last exploratory mandate, which TISP was handed by President Rumen Radev on Monday.

The first meeting was to be with six independent MPs from the now-defunct Velichie parliamentary group who are loyal to ideologist Ivelin Mihaylov. Only Krasimira Katincharova came, who said she was authorized by her colleagues to speak on their behalf as they were unable to attend.

At the start of the meeting, TISP floor leader Toshko Yordanov said they propose an expert cabinet with a programme to be implemented within a fixed time frame. “If there are legislation and priorities that are shared as goals, we can talk about a government,” he noted.

Katincharova set as a condition for support for a regular government under the third mandate the backing of a draft resolution submitted by the independent MPs on the construction of the Belene nuclear plant project with the help of the Ukrainian side. The TISP representatives said they could propose to Energy Committee Chairman Delyan Dobrev (GERB-UDF) to include the draft resolution in the next Committee meeting's agenda, but Katincharova was not satisfied with that response and an agreement was not reached.

Later on Tuesday, the TISP representatives met with ex-Velichie MPs gravitating to the party's former chairman Nikolay Markov and Kaloyan Metodiev, who has been expelled from the BSP for Bulgaria parliamentary group. The discussion was attended by Markov, Hristo Borisov, Darin Georgiev, Georgi Kukov, Etien Levi, and Viktoria Vassileva.

The TISP representatives highlighted the need for judicial reform and improved public access to the Judiciary as well as the importance of easing restrictions on conducting referendums. The political discussions also centered on the appointment of members in the regulatory bodies. Responding to a question about TISP's vision for the horizon of a prospective government, Yordanov said that it would be most reasonable to have a full four-year government term, but a cabinet with a shorter lifespan that can "tackle important tasks" is also possible. Yordanov also said that the priorities of the future government should be identified by all of those who will support it.

"We welcome your efforts for constructive dialogue. We see that you are favoring a statesmanlike approach to solving the crisis," Markov said. In his words, the presented priorities do not sound confrontational.

As a general conclusion, Yordanov said that "we agree on most things as far as how the third mandate should be approached". "I urge all parties to be sensible, composed, and pragmatic because I am convinced that after this meeting, the majority in favor of the realization of the third mandate has grown to 22 people," MP Stanislav Balabanov of TISP told the media after the meeting.

A meeting scheduled for Tuesday with independent MPs from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) was postponed to Wednesday. Talks were supposed to be held with those MPs of the MRF who have either been expelled or have left the parliamentary group as they oppose MRF co-leader Delyan Peevski and are loyal to MRF Honorary Chairman Ahmed Dogan.

TISP plan to hold talks on the possible formation of a government with all parliamentary groups. So far, BSP for Bulgaria have expressed readiness to accept TISP's official invitation. GERB-UDF remain adamant that they will not back a government under the third mandate. Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria have expressed skepticism to a government under TISP's mandate due to their experience with TISP in the coalition government of prime minister Kiril Petkov. MRF Chairman Delyan Peevski refused to talk with TISP. Vazrazhdane are yet to reply to TISP's invitation.

TISP were mandated to explore options to put together a government after the largest parliamentary group, GERB-UDF, picked Rosen Zhelyazkov as their prime minister-designate but his nomination was defeated in a parliamentary vote. On July 22, Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria, which found themselves to be the second largest group after a rift in the MRF diminished its size, declined the cabinet-forming mandate right away.

Under the Constitution, if a parliament-elected cabinet is not formed under the third mandate, the President has to set a date for early parliamentary elections within two months and appoint a caretaker cabinet.

/DS/