site.btaVolya Party Leaves Parliament

106 POLITICS-VOLYA PARTY-PARLIAMENT-QUITTING amplified 1

Volya Party
Leaves
Parliament


Sofia, March 14 (BTA) - The parliamentary group of the Volya party of businessman Vesselin Mareshki is leaving Parliament, Mareshki himself told a briefing on Thursday. Mareshki said that the decision to quit the National Assembly was made by a meeting of Volya's parliamentary group on Thursday morning. He declined to say the reasons for the decision to quit Parliament, arguing that the talks are still continuing. "They are not easy, trust me," Mareshki said.

Volya has 12 MPs in Parliament and the decision to quit makes the ruling coalition of GERB and the United Patriots dependent on the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) for ensuring quorum for holding plenary sittings. The ruling majority has 122 votes, one more than the necessary 121 to hold a meeting.

The opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) quit Parliament nearly a month ago and until now the ruling majority were dependent on Volya. From now on, plenary sittings may not be held without MRF.

Announcing the decision to quit, Mareshki said that the role of his party was to "expose the manipulations and bring down the masks of politicians". "Accept this decisions as part of this consistent policy," he said, promising more details in the afternoon or the coming days.

GERB Floor Leader Tsvetanov Does Not See Conditions for Early Elections

GERB floor leader Tsvetan Tsvetanov commented in Parliament that his party and the United Patriots coalition have "more than 121 MPs". "I do not think a parliamentary crisis has emerged," Tsvetanov said. He said he had not had an opportunity to talk with Mareshki before Volya's decision was announced.

Tsvetanov said there are no prerequisites for early elections. "Bulgaria is stable, Parliament is working," he said, adding that GERB is planning for two elections this year: for European Parliament in May and local elections in the autumn.

United Patriots MP Valeri Simeonov Does Not Think Parliamentary Crisis Is Present

United Patriots MP and Chairman of the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria Valeri Simeonov said he was not worried much about the parliamentary quorum and did not expect a parliamentary crisis after Volya's decision. Simeonov said that he feels comfortable without the BSP in the plenary chamber. "Laws are passed with a good tempo. Parliament is working well. I do not see a crisis," he said.

BSP leader Kornelia Ninova too said she was not familiar with Volya's decision to quit Parliament and the reasons. "It remains to be seen whether a price will be named for Volya's possible return to Parliament," Ninova said. Approached to say on what conditions would the BSP return to the National Assembly, she said the Socialists' position remains unchanged - fair elections must be guaranteed. ZH
/СН/