site.btaUPDATED Joint Governance Council Holds First Meeting

The Joint Governance Council (JGC) is holding its first meeting on Tuesday. They are expected to discuss appointments of deputy ministers and regional governors as announced by GERB leader Boyko Borissov on January 17.

The JGC is a decision-making mechanism of the government coalition as agreed by GERB-UDF, BSP - United Left and There Is Such a People (TISP) - the partners in the government elected on January 16.

GERB-UDF Deputy Floor Leader Raya Nazaryan, who was part of the team negotiating the government coalition, explained the three partners will have three representatives each, who may be party leaders, MPs or other designees. The Democracy, Rights and Freedoms (DRF) Parliamentary Group, which backed the Cabinet at its election, will have two representatives. The JGC will make decisions by consensus and will meet Mondays or Tuesdays, before Parliament adopts its law-making programme, said Nazaryan. GERB-UDF will be represented at the meetings by the deputy floor leaders and Floor Leader Boyko Borissov will also participate.

TISP Deputy Floor Leader Stanislav Balabanov said that government representatives would also attend the meetings.

DRF Floor Leader Dzhevdet Chakarov said late last week that under the coalition agreement, appointments will be based on criteria including public confidence, professionalism and independence, not on a quota principle.

Under the agreement, the JGC chairmanship will be held on a three months' rotating basis. The chairperson will be tasked with organizing the agenda, moderating the meetings and ensuring the implementation of the decisions adopted. The JGC will be meeting once every two weeks and will adopt decisions by consensus. If no consensus is reached, the matter may be deferred for further debate or a compromise proposal may be drafted. A veto will require a vote against by at least two parties to the agreement. Minutes will be taken at each meeting, recording the items on the agenda, the decisions adopted and the responsibilities of each partner.