site.btaNational Assembly Chair Nazaryan Confirms Refusal to Head Caretaker Cabinet

Emerging from talks with President Rumen Radev here on Monday, National Assembly Chair Raya Nazaryan made it clear that she had confirmed her last week's refusal to be appointed caretaker prime minister.

"I reconfirmed my position that prominent public figures would not contribute either to the bon ton and dialogue among parties in the election campaign or to build confidence in the political process," Nazaryan told journalists. "It would be unfair. What matters most for a caretaker prime minister is to ensure the conduct of fair and transparent elections and prominent political figures will not lead to confidence in this process. Bulgaria needs trust and proper dialogue among political entities," the National Assembly Chair added.

"I do not aspire to become caretaker prime minister and, if invited by President Radev to assume this position, I will decline the offer," Nazaryan said last week. 

"GERB will enter the upcoming elections on an equal footing with all political groups," she also said.

Radev invited Nazaryan to a meeting in connection with her eligibility for the office of caretaker prime minister, along with the central bank governor and vice governors, the National Audit Office president and vice presidents, and the national ombudsman and deputy ombudsman.

Earlier on Monday, There Is Such a People returned unfulfilled the third and last cabinet-forming mandate to President Radev, who now has to appoint a caretaker prime minister and schedule elections within two months.