site.btaGERB "Not Taking Step Back" on Raya Nazaryan's Nomination for Parliament Speaker

Asked by a journalist on Wednesday whether GERB will take a step back on Raya Nazaryan as their candidate for chairperson of the new National Assembly, party leader Boyko Borissov answered in the negative. Borissov commented: "Traditionally, the number one party gets the parliament chairperson's seat, and then some processes start. The principle matters, otherwise why run in elections?"

Earlier on Wednesday, the 50th National Assembly failed to elect its chair. After four nominations, the final choice was between Raya Nazaryan (GERB-UDF) and Petar Petrov (Vazrazhdane), but neither of them won enough votes to be elected.

On Tuesday, Borissov said the outcome of the vote on Nazaryan's bid to head the National Assembly would determine whether GERB could carry on with the negotiations for the new government. "If the vote is successful, we will continue the talks; if not, this will be all," he said.