site.btaTISP's Balabanov Comments GERB-UDF's Refusal to Back Third Exploratory Mandate

GERB-UDF's final decision not to support the third exploratory government-forming mandate had been made in advance, There Is Such a People (TISP) MP Stanislav Balabanov told journalists here on Saturday, after the talks with representatives of GERB-UDF his party had in hope of securing support for the formationm of a regular cabinet. It transpired after the meeting that GERB-UDF will not support the third mandate.

According to Balabanov, GERB leader Boyko Borissov will have to bear a heavy political responsibility and the full consequences of not supporting the mandate.

Balabanov stressed that during the talks between the negotiating teams of TISP and GERB-UDF, a full coverage was achieved on the important priorities for the country, but, in his words, "the shadow hanging over the first political force has concealed the desire for expertise".

"One particular person wants quick elections in the country and his name is [MRF co-chairman] Delyan Peevski. Based on what I observe in the public space, I ask myself if the shadow of Delyan Peevski over the leader of the first political force is too big. These are answers that the public will understand very soon", Balabanov stressed.

Balabanov said that normality has been achieved in the National Assembly, which can be attributed to TISP,  as well as an attempt at statesmanship and a vision for the country. It will be appreciated by the Bulgarian citizens. "I doubt, however, that the Bulgarian citizens will forgive the personal and partisan interests of specific people," he said, commenting the talks his party had with different political forces.

"The question of the caretaker cabinet is upcoming and will be based on what happened today," he said.  

"We have given the historic opportunity to all political formations, in this one week, to act statesmanlike. Some of them did, others did not declare their official position. In fact, it was the responsibility of the first political party [GERB] and its leader to see if there was an opportunity to proceed in a statesmenlike fashion given the grave political crisis," Balabanov added.

Saturday's meeting between TISP and the GERB-UDF lasted about three hours and various questions pertaining to governing the State were discussed.