site.btaGERB Leader: "We Need Regular Government, Political Ego Turned Out to Be Big Problem"

Meeting with President Rumen Radev as part of a round of consultations before efforts are made to form a government, GERB leader Boyko Borissov said that "political ego has turned out to be a big problem" and that the country needs a regular government. 

He also said that GERB-UDF, being the largest political force in Parliament, will do their best this week to convince the other MPs that there is a need to form a government.

"We made a promise, we will make an effort," said Borissov. 

Asked by the President when GERB-UDF expect to receive the government-forming mandate, Borissov said, "This week is for consultations. From Monday onwards, if your agenda allows it, we can go ahead with the first mandate. If we don't come to an agreement, we won't the week after either."

"Everybody talks on behalf of the people and what their electorate says. When their electorate is five times smaller than GERB's, you understand what compromises cost our party," said Borissov.

He argued that looking at the international picture and what Bulgaria needs to do - adopt a budget and go ahead with geostrategic project, this country clearly needs a Parliament-elected government. "Adopting a state budget without having such a government will be more of what we have been seeing in the recent years: huge deficits, huge spending and none of the measures that can keep all that in check," he added.

Borissov reiterated that his party has accepted many compromises and now expects to see "what steps the others would propose". 

He added, "I see many leaders are hurt that their candidate did not become Parliament Chair. If anybody has a reason to feel that it is us because everybody is talking about the responsibility of the first political force but then they continue the sentence with how the Prime Minister and Parliament Chair should not be a GERB candidate. How are we supposed to take on this responsibility then?" asked Borissov.

"We are working on all options"

Emerging from the meeting with the President, Borissov told reporters that his party is working "on all options for forming a government".

He was asked by the press if they are planning to invite to talks Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria, to which he said, "We are planning various scenarios with the colleagues, we are holding talks because I believe that it is important to hold such meetings when the preparatory work has been done."

Borissov said further: "If they want a strong government to do the work, I should be the Prime Minister. If the government is politically unaffiliated, it won't be strong."

He said that the Continue the Change made an bad decision Monday to go to government negotiations only with parties that have signed a declaration for a sanitary cordon around Delyan Peevski's party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) - New Beginning.

Also, Borissov said that the number of MPs from GERB-UDF and Democratic Bulgaria, without Continue the Change "is not enough for anything". "If we don't get a government on the first [GERB's] mandate, we won't on the second and third either," he reiterated. He added that "other majorities without GERB can try with the second and third mandate". 

Borissov excluded the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms - New Beginning - the two warring factions in the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, as well as Vazrazhdane, from the circle of parties that GERB accepts to work with. 

The GERB leader said that many political leaders "are unaware of the international situation and the ongoing processes in the world". "Fortunately, President Radev is aware of all that. I am happy with today's meeting because he understands that he needs a Parliament-elected government, a structure to assume international commitments with government ministers to deliver on these commitments. A strong political government is what I propose."