site.btaUPDATED CC-DB Are Optimistic for Pro-European and Anti-Corruption Majority in This Parliament; There Is No Rift between Two Partners in Coalition

Talking to President Rumen Radev as part of a round of consultations before attempts are made to form a government, Nadejda Iordanova, the Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) co-floor leader, said that the position of her parliamentary group is that Bulgaria needs to have a Parliament-elected government and that it should have a pro-European and anti-corruption agenda.

She said that CC and DB agree on that. "We have a joint decision on that. We share the same goal and there is no rift [between CC and DB]. This is what we told the President," said Iordanova.

She also said, "Both for DB and for CC, the measures in the declaration on a sanitary cordon for Delyan Peevski are a must. There is no stepping back from them. The difference in the approach is that DB will go to talks with GERB to explain the measures and call for guarantees that they will be implemented," said Iordanova.

CC-DB are optimistic that it is possible to have a pro-European and anti-corruption majority. "To have a stable government, it needs to be backed by a broad parliamentary majority," said she.

She used one example. "When we have a problem in the judiciary, we know that the lasting solution would be electing a Supreme Judicial Council that is politically unaffiliated. Achieving that takes time and a government. Bulgaria should stop being the country of the expired terms in office," said Iordanova.

She was referring to the expired term of office of the Supreme Judicial Council which is preparing to elect acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov for a full term as the country's top prosecutor.

CC-DB was the second political force to meet with the President after GERB on Tuesday. 

Iordanova said that CC-DB are ready to negotiate with all parliamentary forces minus Vazrazhdane and MRF-New Beginning. She said her group's priorities are pro-European and anti-corruption policies. 

"We are committed to implementing the approach we used during the election campaign, which earned us a mandate from the Bulgarian people. This approach involves forming a government centered on pro-European priorities, such as Schengen, the eurozone, and anti-corruption measures. In seeking such a broad majority, we must also envision a cabinet capable of delivering on this vision," said Iordanova.

"In this fragmented Parliament, amid this political fragmentation, we believe that only a prime minister who is impartial, widely acceptable, and free from partisan polarization can fulfill this mission," she added.

Iordanova emphasized that they will participate "responsibly and with humility" in the negotiation process, but not at any cost. "The corruption blight within institutions must be eradicated, and we will not compromise on this," she concluded.

CC co-chair Kiril Petkov stated at the beginning of the meeting with the President that his party is “very concerned that the leading political force continues to vacillate and refuses to sign off on a sanitary cordon [around Delyan Peevski], which means they are not actually prepared to adopt anti-corruption laws, make progress in judicial reform, or take fundamental steps to improve the electoral process.” "So, CC will remain vigilant to see if GERB can break free from the behind-the-scenes influence that currently holds their party captive. Democratic Bulgaria we will go to negotiations but we will have a clear precondition: only if the parties that wish to form the next government are ready to sign off on this sanitary cordon," he insisted. He emphasized that both the National Assembly and the government must focus on the tasks that are most crucial for the country.

According to CC-DB co-floor leader Nikolay Denkov, an “urgent first priority” is the adoption of a state budget that will ensure all state systems function smoothly from January 1. Also linked to this budget is the swift adoption of laws related to the Recovery and Resilience Plan, noted Denkov. "Let me remind you that this concerns BGN 1.6 billion, which did not enter this year’s budget and is expected to be included in the next one if approved. Those who block the adoption of these bills hinder the establishment of justice in the country and create serious financial problems. For years, the justice system has failed to fulfill its functions," said Nikolay Denkov.