Bulgaria’s political drama: Challenges, and consultations
GERB leader Boiko Borissov, addressing the first sitting of the 42nd National Assembly on May 21, confirmed his party’s intention to lodge an application in the Constitutional Court to overturn the elections that produced it.
Confirmation of GERB’s intention to challenge the elections came soon after President Rossen Plevneliev told Parliament that he intended beginning consultations with political parties on May 23 about the process of handing over mandates to attempt to form a government.
As the party that won the largest share of votes in the elections, GERB has the right to be offered such a mandate first.
Borissov, in being called to speak first among the political parties, opened his remarks by underlining that his was the first party in Bulgaria’s modern history to win two elections consecutively.
But, against the background of GERB having won insufficient votes to get its proposed cabinet approved and the probability of it being sent into opposition by a working alliance of the socialists, Movement for Rights and Freedoms and Ataka, Borissov reminded of his party’s intention to challenge the elections on the grounds of alleged unlawful canvassing on the day before the election, and at the same time, poured scorn on the workability of the BSP’s government, given the fundamental policy differences among the other three parties.
The Constitutional Court application would be lodged the same day, May 21, Borissov said.
(Photo: Clive Leviev-Sawyer)
