site.btaUPDATED GERB Leader Says His Party's "Natural Partners" Are CC-DB, MRF, Socialist Party, TISP

GERB's "natural partners" are Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB), the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and There Is Such a People (TISP), GERB leader Boyko Borissov said here Wednesday. "GERB’s natural partners are those who were in 'the assemblage', plus BSP and TISP," he said as he spoke to reporters in Parliament. Asked if MRF were in that "assemblage" [the name used for the former ruling majority], he said that "of course it was". "I, Petkov and Peevski had a conversation with [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky about arming [Ukraine]" Borissov added.

Borissov said that MRF did not support the "assemblage" government but supported the constitutional amendments, the judicial reform, the military aid to Ukraine. "The assemblage broke because of one minister, everything was agreed, they [CC-DB] did not back down on the interior minister, now President [Rumen] Radev has appointed an interior minister so that both sides are happy," Borissov argued.

"Our political system requires systemic parties to have a responsible attitude after elections. If you cannot do it alone, make coalitions and [try] different ways to govern. There are countries in which negotiations are held for months and in the end, you go to [form a] government," Borissov said.

Once again, the leader of GERB reiterated his proposal to introduce a voting system similar to the one in Greece that would grant bonus MPs to whichever party wins the elections.

Boyko Borissov denied that there are MPs in the GERB parliamentary group who are under the control of MRF floor leader Delyan Peevski.

Asked if he wants to become prime minister again, he said, "No, three times is enough for me, [it is] GERB [representatives who] want it. I am undoubtedly the most successful prime minister"

He said that his party is not going to back a bill on foreign agents moved by the nationalist Vazrazhdane party.