site.btaUPDATED Election of Prime Minister Collective Decision, GERB Leader Borissov Says

The election of a prime minister is a collective decision, said GERB leader Boyko Borissov told journalists in Parliament here on Thursday in response to a question whether he would be a candidate for prime minister. Borissov commented on the ongoing negotiations between GERB-UDF and Democratic Bulgaria to find a majority in Parliament to support the formation of a regular government. 

"I will never become a reason for something not to happen. I know there is no one better than me to do it, but in the end it is a collective decision," the GERB leader said, adding that after the expert meetings and talks are over, there will be a leadership meeting.

Asked whether he would join the negotiations led by GERB - UDF, Borissov said he was constantly involved. "Last night I joined on the phone when [caretaker Finance] Minister [Lyudmila] Petkova was there," Borissov pointed out and explained that on Wednesday evening there was a meeting between Minister Petkova, GERB-UDF and DB, during which the budget for next year was presented.

Borissov pointed out that what he had insisted on was that the real numbers from the budget come out. There is a law that obliges the Ministry of Finance to bring in a budget with a 3% deficit - "we should either cancel the law that obliges the Ministry of Finance to bring in a budget with a 3% deficit, or she [Petkova] should send in parallel with this budget a report on the actual state of the state's finances," the GERB leader said.

Asked whether he would support this budget, Borissov said he could not support it in any of its parts. "I say this on behalf of GERB and that is why I want this analysis so that people understand why I do not want to support it," he added.

"I have always argued that caretaker governments are to organize elections. I have always been absolutely against them signing long-term agreements," Borissov commented on the support requested by caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev on the signing of the agreement on defence cooperation with Ukraine. According to Borissov, even though the caretaker Prime Minister and his Cabinet can sign the agreement, it would be better for a regular government to do so, after it assesses whether it has the necessary parliamentary support for such a move.