site.btaMECh Party Vows Not to Meet with GERB

In a press release distributed on Tuesday, the parliamentary group of Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh) declared that they will not participate in meetings or roundtables with GERB representatives. The release states that MECh's position towards GERB and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) - New Beginning has been clear since October 28, the day after the last snap parliamentary elections.

On Monday, BSP - United Left invited all parliamentary political forces but MRF - New Beginning to talks in hopes of gathering support for BSP MP Nataliya Kiselova's nomination for Parliament Chair and in order to discuss urgent legislative initiatives.

MECh's statement reads: "MECh will not sit at the same table as the political mafia! We will not support a candidate who has the approval of [GERB leader] Boyko Borissov, because the only long-term solution to the political crisis is to unite against the model of Borissov and [MRF - New Beginning leader Delyan] Peevski." The party remains open to communicating with the rest of the parliamentary groups, excluding GERB and MRF - New Beginning, in order to form a majority and elect a Parliament Chair.

According to MECh, Peevski is not worried about the "cordon sanitaire" (sanitary cordon) proposed around him by Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB). MECh alleged: "Peevski's statement today is a clear sign that either they have secretly agreed on a patchwork coalition between GERB, CC-DB and a third wheel, or that Peevski is helping GERB with the destruction of CC-DB." The statement also criticized CC-DB Co-chair Kiril Petkov for failing to isolate Peevski as well as for allowing Peevski to exercise his power through "one of his proxies in Parliament".