site.btaZhelyazkov Cabinet Should Continue Functioning, even as Minority Government, GERB Leader Borissov Says

Speaking on the sidelines of the National Assembly, GERB leader Boyko Borissov said that the government headed by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov [of the GERB-UDF coalition] should continue to function, even as a minority government. Borissov's statement was a comment on the Constitutional Court’s decree tasking the Central Election Commission with conducting a nationwide reconciliation of the results of the October 27, 2024, parliamentary elections.

"[It should] continue functioning as a minority government – what other option is there?" Borissov asked rhetorically. "That is why I say that a governing solution must be sought together with our colleagues from There Is Such a People, the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF), and the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP)." Borissov added that on Wednesday, following a call from Democracy, Rights and Freedoms (DRF), a working meeting was held among the ruling parties. DRF is the name of ARF’s parliamentary group, which is the faction loyal to Movement for Rights and freedoms (MRF) founder Ahmed Dogan after the 2024 rift in the MRF.

The leader of GERB did not rule out seeking support from Democratic Bulgaria (part of the Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria coalition) and other political forces if there is no majority in the National Assembly, in order for Bulgaria to have a stable government on its path to the eurozone.

When asked whether the necessary legislation would be passed on time to secure the second payment under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Borissov replied that all deadlines from the past four years "are over now".

Commenting on Thursday’s actions by Vazrazhdane, whose MPs displayed a banner at their seats in Parliament reading "Freedom for the students. Prison for Borissov," he said that Vazrazhdane is "encouraging children to break the law, to set fires, to vandalize, and then looking for excuses." He added that in Bulgaria, no event can take place without his name being mentioned. He referred to Vazrazhdane's Saturday anti-Euro protest, after which five people, four adults and one minor, were detained and charged with hooliganism.

According to him, there is now a "cordon" around Vazrazhdane, as all political parties have left the plenary hall for two consecutive days whenever Vazrazhdane MPs speak. Borissov showed an agreement between Bulgaria and the European Union, which, he claimed, clearly states that Bulgaria is obligated to join the eurozone, making a referendum on keeping the Bulgarian lev, as demanded by Vazrazhdane, impossible.

"If I have to take responsibility for implementing Bulgaria's commitments, then I understand being blamed. But using me as an excuse for failures and difficulties is quite exaggerated," Borissov said, referring to Vazrazhdane’s behaviour. He emphasized that he wants to bring Bulgaria to the table of major European countries that have adopted the euro and insisted that entering the eurozone would not harm this country. He added that prices are already high, despite the Bulgarian lev still being the national currency. "If regulators function properly, these excessive markups that go beyond reasonable levels will be eliminated," the GERB leader concluded, referring to the state’s regulatory agencies.