site.btaUPDATED Continue the Change Co-Chair Petkov: We Are Monitoring the Talks between GERB-UDF and Democratic Bulgaria

Commenting on the ongoing negotiations between GERB-UDF and Democratic Bulgaria (DB), Continue the Change (CC) Co-Chair Kiril Petkov told reporters here on Wednesday that while CC is not taking part, it is closely monitoring the process. He clarified that CC will not join the negotiations until GERB-UDF signs the proposed cordon sanitaire (sanitary cordon) around the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) - New Beginning coalition chaired by Delyan Peevski and until the agenda includes the topic of finding a prime minister equidistant from all parties.

Petkov said: "We will not compromise. We are leaving our colleagues to negotiate." Regarding GERB leader Boyko Borissov's refusal to sign the proposed cordon sanitaire, Petkov said: "It is one thing to say that he will not work with the MRF - New Beginnings, it is another thing to sign the declaration in black and white." He added: "We see that he is ready to make any turns in what he is saying, but so far, he has been unwilling to sign the declaration."

Asked whether CC's coalition partners, DB would be willing to participate in the government, Petkov said he believes that CC and DB share the same priorities. He added: "We just believe that we cannot take Boyko Borisov's hand and take him out of Peevski's dark room. They [DB] think that they can achieve this with talks. Let me say very clearly on behalf of CC that we will not participate in these negotiations without a renunciation from Peevski with a declaration, and without an equidistant prime minister on the agenda."

According to Petkov, if the National Assembly fails to vote on the composition of Parliament's standing Committee on Legal Affairs this week, then "there is no chance to stop [acting Prosecutor General Borislav] Sarafov." He added that his coalition's focus is on the Committee, on amending the Judicial System Act and on preventing Sarafov from taking the position of prosecutor general.