Borissov says talks underway on a government – but talks with whom?
Talks are currently underway to form a government, GERB-UDF leader Boiko Borissov told reporters in Parliament.
However, it was not immediately clear with whom GERB-UDF – which as Parliament’s largest group will be first to be handed a mandate to seek to form a government – is holding talks, as several parliamentary groups denied participating in negotiations, or even receiving invitations to talks.
Borissov said that the person hindering the process of We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria co-leader Assen Vassilev.
The GERB-UDF leader said that “two or three weeks” ago, he had appointed a negotiating team.
“When I have something to tell you – I will tell you,” Borissov said.
“We will do everything possible. We see that the colleagues from (Democratic Bulgaria) think differently.
“There are other parties that do not want, unlike (Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning leader Delyan) Peevski and Vassilev, to go to elections, and I will try to take advantage of this ,” he said.
Borissov told President Roumen Radev on December 10 that negotiations on a cabinet would be held this week and GERB-UDF was prepared to receive the first mandate next week because “if we don’t agree this week, we won’t agree next week either”.
Within WCC-DB, WCC and DB have different opinions on what the approach should be towards the talks on forming a government .
WCC has made clear its view that they will hold talks with GERB-UDF only if Borissov signs a declaration on a cordon sanitaire around Peevski, the controversial figure subject to US and UK sanctions for large-scale corruption.
DB is ready to enter into talks with GERB even before the declaration is signed, but they also continue to insist on the measures in the measures in the declaration being endorsed by GERB-UDF.
Responding to Borissov’s statements, Vassilev told reporters that no negotiations between WCC and GERB-UDF are being held.
Vassilev, reacting to Borissov naming him as the obstacle to negotiations, said: “How exactly are we preventing it? Maybe you should ask him this question next time he lies on TV.”
WCC-DB’s Nadezhda Yordanova, a DB figure, told reporters that there are currently no negotiations, and that so far the DB has not even received an invitation from Borissov’s group for talks.
The matter also was touched on as President Roumen Radev held his final day of consultations, with the Ahmed Dogan loyalists of the Democracy, Rights and Freedoms parliamentary group, populist ITN and populist-nationalist Mech, Parliament’s smallest group.
DRF parliamentary leader Dzhevdet Chakurov said that his group was ready for dialogue with everyone except Peevski’s group and Vuzrazhdane, Kostadin Kostadinov’s pro-Russian party.
Chakurov said that DRF, if invited, would be open to dialogue and constructive.
He said that they are not optimistic about forming a regular government in this fragmented Parliament.
“Red lines are being drawn rather than a convergence of positions in the name of the country,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after the DRF delegation met Radev, Chakurov said that the DRF group would make a decision on whether to support the first mandate only if there are public talks with GERB-UDF to discuss the priorities and policies that will be followed.
ITN group leader Toshko Yordanov said that a government should be formed, but not at any cost.
He told reporters that ITN had not received an invitation from GERB-UDF for talks.
Mech leader Radostin Vassilev told Radev that his party would not hold talks with Borissov or Peevski, and would not support a Borissov government.
Bulgarian Socialist Party – United Left coalition parliamentary group leader Borislav Gutsanov, who met Radev on December 11, told reporters on the morning of December 12 that GERB-UDF had not yet approach his group, and no talks had been held.
Borissov has ruled out involving Vuzrazhdane in a ruling majority.
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