site.btaReactions to GERB-UDF's Invitations to Government-Forming Talks

The negotiating team of GERB-UDF, the first political force to receive the exploratory mandate to form a government, sent out official letters on Friday to the parties that are open to talks on forming a government. Earlier in the day, GERB Leader Boyko Borissov told journalists in Parliament that he hopes that negotiations will start as soon as possible and will be successfully concluded.

The invitations were sent to Democratic Bulgaria (DB), BSP-United Left, and There Is Such a People (TISP). Continue the Change (CC) were not invited because they refused talks, the GERB Leader explained.

On Thursday evening, Borissov told President Rumen Radev that GERB would need more time. On Friday morning, Borissov also spoke personally with BSP-United Left Co-Floor Leader Atanas Zafirov. The GERB-UDF negotiating team consists of Raya Nazaryan, Tomislav Donchev, Daniel Mitov, and Rosen Zhelyazkov.

Speaking to journalists in Parliament, Zafirov said that his party has received the invitation by GERB-UDF for expert talks on issues concerning Bulgarian society and seeking a solution to find support for a government that would solve the country's major issues. The indicated period for the talks to take place is between December 16 and 20. Zafirov explained that the issue will be discussed at 1:00 pm at a meeting of the Executive Bureau of the BSP, and on Sunday at a meeting of the party's National Council and then at a meeting of the Coalition Council.

CC wished success to their colleagues from DB in the talks and promised not to obstruct them.

"We do not trust Borissov, if he wanted to make a government, he should have signed the declaration and given up on [Movement for Rights and Freedoms - New Beginning Floor Leader Delyan] Peevski,” said CC Co-Chair Kiril Petkov.

CC Co-Chair Assen Vassilev said that it is important that next week the budget begins to be reviewed in committees. He noted that the party's National Council has a decision which says they won't mind if their colleagues from DB attend negotiations. He stressed that they have no intention of obstructing them or the potential formation of a government. The former finance minister emphasized that their position on the process is very clear, stating that they would only enter talks with political forces that have signed the "sanitary cordon" to isolate Delyan Peevski from power, Vassilev added.

TISP Deputy Floor Leader Stanislav Balabanov said that his party will accept GERB's invitation for talks, but will not support a government headed by Boyko Borissov as Prime Minister. "TISP will go to these meetings with its clear expertise, specific legislative initiatives and a programme for governance which has fixed deadlines," explained Balabanov. TISP wants to see how the number one political force will lead this process, Balabanov said, noting: "Do they really want to seek a majority and work on priorities or will some activity be feigned next week in order to get a better date for elections?"

President Rumen Radev concluded consultations with parliamentary political parties, excluding MRF - New Beginning, on Thursday, ahead of handing over the first mandate to form a government.