President Rumen Radev lamented Deputy Ombudsman Elena Cherneva-Markova's resignation, which effectively removes her from the pool of office-holders from which a potential caretaker prime minister can be chosen in case the three exploratory government-forming mandates fail to produce a regular cabinet. He also criticized Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) over the constitutional amendments made in connection with the caretaker governments, which prior to that were the head of State's prerogative. Radev presented the second exploratory mandate to CC-DB here on Wednesday, which they promptly returned unfulfilled.
"The narrow circle of possibilities for a caretaker prime minister was narrowed even further today (Wednesday) with the resignation of Deputy Ombudsman Elena Cherneva-Markova, as she was the only figure who is neither indirectly nor directly close to any political party," President Rumen Radev said while presenting the second exploratory government-forming mandate to CC-DB.
She is the only one on the list for whom it is clear that we can say with certainty that there is no incompatibility," the President said.
"How come Mrs Elena Cherneva-Markova suddenly decided to resign?," Radev asked. "When this fact was announced today (Wednesday) in Parliament, I was truly surprised that you remained silent and did not react. In my opinion, there should have been questions - why, how, for what reasons, how so suddenly just yesterday (Tuesday), was there pressure, why no hearing was initiated," Radev added. "Don't be surprised that the chance of you getting a political caretaker cabinet that will most likely not be in your favour is increasing sharply," Radev added.
The President pointed out that the CC-DB had made efforts until the last moment for Bulgaria to have a regular government.
"Again, the Bulgarian citizens will decide how the country will move forward, but it is very important in what conditions they will do so. I don't know if you are aware of the processes that have already been unleashed as a result of the amendments to the Constitution that you also initiated," the head of State said.
Responding to CC-DB co-leader Kiril Petkov's call for holding the Bulgarian general elections together with the European Parliament elections, Radev said that it is already very late for such a request. "I called for not making any hasty changes in the Constitution, especially regarding the caretaker cabinet," President Radev recalled. "You made them and now the questions are much more than the answers," he added.
"I will do my utmost to ensure that the process of choosing a caretaker cabinet does not escalate into a constitutional crisis. You have done everything possible to severely limit the powers of the presidential institution," Radev said. "In less than ten days, I will invite all political parties for consultations to make a final decision as enshrined in the Constitution," he added.
"I did not refer the justice reform to the Constitutional Court, but the other amendments I referred with the complete realisation that these changes will lead to crises and one such crisis is already knocking on the door," Radev said.
Radev presented the second mandate to the second-largest parliamentary force - CC-DB, after GERB-UDF returned it empty on Tuesday. The next step under the Constitution is for the head of State to present the mandate to one of the minor parliamentary groups, who may try to form a government. The Constitution leaves it to the President to choose the party to which he will offer the mandate. Also, the Constitution does not set a time limit for the third mandate.
The Movement for Rights and Freedoms, BSP for Bulgaria and There Is Such a People have already said that they would return unused a government mandate, should the President decide to offer it to them, while Vazrazhdane said that while they are ready to propose a government, but are aware that it would not be supported by the legislature. If the third attempt to form a regular government fails, the President, following consultations with the parliamentary groups, will appoint a caretaker government headed by one of the following individuals: the Parliament Chair, the central bank governor or vice governor, the National Audit Office head or their deputy, the National Ombudsman or their deputy. The main task of the caretaker government will be to organize free and fair elections, which will take place within two months.
/NZ/
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