site.btaGERB-UDF PM-designate Announces Cabinet Proposal as Soon as President Asks Him to Form Government

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev Monday handed a cabinet-forming mandate to Rosen Zhelyazkov in his capacity as prime minister-designate of GERB-UDF. Zhelyazkov was ready with a cabinet right away and proceeded to read out the proposed structure and composition. Shortly after that, the President issued a decree asking Parliament to vote the proposed Cabinet. 

That was a surprisingly swift progress for a procedure that usually takes a week.

Following is the list of proposed lineup: 

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav Donchev
Minister of Finance Lyudmila Petkova
Minister of Foreign Affairs Daniel Mitov
Minister of Interior Kalin Stoyanov
Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Nikolay Nankov
Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov
Minister of Justice Mariya Pavlova
Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev
Minister of Economy and Industry Temenuzhka Petkova
Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov
Minister of Energy Delyan Dobrev
Minister of Environment and Water Ivelina Vasileva
Minister of Social Policy and Public Works Denitsa Sacheva
Minister of Electronic Governance Vladimir Temelkov
Minister of Culture Lyuben Dilov
Minister of Agriculture and Food Georgi Tahov
Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov
Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev
Minister of Youth and Sports Krasen Kralev

Here is a takeaway from the remarks by the President and the GERB-UDF representatives as they met with the head of State, and then talked to the press:

As he handed the mandate to Zhelyazkov, President Radev said that it is "a major responsibility and ordeal". The President mentioned the fragmented Parliament, the low turnout in the June 9 elections which, he said, "invariably impacts the legitimacy of institutions" and which "needs to be addressed with systematic efforts in the name of the public interest".

Having announced his proposal for a government, Zhelyazkov declared several commitments for the possible Cabinet: stabilizing the fiscal model, normalizing public finances and mostly the priorities relating to the work of Parliament, including a clear legislative programme with deadlines that can unite a majority in the name of this country's priorities. He underscored "the strong Euro-Atlantic orientation" of the government. 

GERB leader Boyko Borissov told reporters that if the government is formed, it will accomplish "three or four tasks and then resign". He did mention three tasks: adopting a state budget, unblocking EU funding and making progress towards eurozone entry. "If the government goes through thanks to a trick - whether some MPs choose not to come for the vote, or decide to back us but not as a party, not in a majority to fulfill our programme, then the government will have a very short life: not because somebody will bring it down but because we will walk out," Borissov said.

He urged Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria and "all the rest who are turning their back to the State and chose to protect or reclaim their voter base", to back the government.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Continue the Change co-leader Kiril Petkov wrote that they will not back a government of GERB and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) “which MRF leader Delyan Peevski dreams of, because the next reforms Bulgaria needs are impossible with those parties”.

The nationalist Vazrazhdane party told BTA that their position remains unchanged and they are determined not to support a cabinet of GERB-UDF and Movement for Rights and Freedoms.