site.btaGERB Leader Borissov: GERB to Discuss Presidential Election in September

GERB will discuss the presidential election in September, party leader Boyko Borissov said on Sunday during the party's New Minds Political Academy. He was responding to a journalist's question about a comment by Democratic Bulgaria co-leader Ivaylo Mirchev that GERB and the right-wing parties would not field a joint presidential candidate.

"I would rather be interested in what Mr Mirchev has to explain, because he did not support the appeals that we filed with the Constitutional Court together with our colleagues from Continue the Change," Borissov said.

Commenting on the appeals against the 2026 State Budget Act submitted to the Constitutional Court, Borissov said they were based on two provisions which, in his view, were indisputable.

"There is a law requiring that the budget submitted to Parliament have a deficit of no more than 3%. If you submit one with a deficit above 3%, that is already a violation of the law," Borissov said. He added that the current budget affects workers and businesses. Whenever his governments had to introduce similar increases, there had always been tensions and protests, and efforts had been made to manage them. "The real goal is to achieve broad unity on the important issues," he said.

Borissov also commented on the defence industry and German company Rheinmetall.

"The whole world is competing for Rheinmetall's attention. They offer to provide the technology, factories, machinery and access to their market, while you have to contribute half of the investment needed to build the facilities," he said. According to Borissov, the most scarce commodity at present is propellant for NATO-standard 155 mm ammunition.

Borissov also highlighted achievements by GERB representatives, including the election of GERB MP Stefan Arsov as Vice President of the European Democrat Students (EDS) at the organization's forum in Warsaw. EDS is the student and youth organization of the European People's Party (EPP).