Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria: ‘No radical, extreme turn’ in foreign policy
When ex-president Roumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria takes office in government, there will be no “radical, extreme” turn in foreign policy, parliamentary leader Petar Vitanov told head of state President Iliyana Yotova on May 5.
Yotova was holding the first of the day’s succession of her consultations with all six parliamentary groups, ahead of handing over the first mandate to seek to form a government, which will go to Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria as the largest group in the 52nd National Assembly, after its decisive victory in Bulgaria’s April 19 early parliamentary elections.
Radev, formerly Bulgaria’s president for nine years, did not attend the consultations with Yotova, instead sending Vitanov as the head of the delegation, accompanied by MPs Gulub Donev, Anton Kutev and Vladimir Nikolov.
Vitanov said that at the outset, Progressive Bulgaria envisages legislation to stop “galloping prices and mass impoverishment”.
He said that a “cascade” of projects to restore justice in the judicial system is also expected.
“We are aware of the catastrophic situation with public finances. We will demand detailed information when the caretaker government leaves office. The potential Budget deficit is a huge problem. We have difficult months ahead,” Vitanov said.
“In terms of foreign policy, I want to reassure those critics who expect a radical, extreme turn — nothing like that. For nine years, President Radev has had very clear positions, positions that almost all European leaders are now approaching.”
Radev has been widely reported to be seen as pro-Russian, and when in office as head of state, opposed the provision of military equipment to Ukraine, instead advocating for a “diplomatic solution” to the Russian – Ukrainian war.
Donev, formerly Radev’s chief of staff and who was appointed by the then-president to serve as caretaker prime minister from August 2022 to June 2023, told Yotova: “I would not go into depth regarding the financial condition of the public finances of the state Budget, since I am not familiar in depth with the official reports prepared by the Ministry of Finance”.
“I would only mention the worrying situation with the Budget deficit, which as of April is already 1.4 per cent of the gross domestic product,” Donev said.
“This increase in the Budget deficit is mainly due to several groups of expenses, but above all these are personnel expenses, pension expenses, social security payments, and to some extent capital expenses, which indicates that the structure of the expenditure part of the state Budget is not well structured.
“This, of course, will lead to a number of negatives in the future, since these are expenses that are not one-time, but are long-term and are repeated over the years, of course with an increase. So one of the main tasks will be restructuring the expenditure part of the Budget,” he said.
On May 5, once the process of holding consultations with parliamentary groups has been completed, Yotova is to make a statement to the media, in which she is expected to announce when the first mandate to seek to form a government will be handed over.
It is widely expected that Yotova will hand over the first mandate on May 7 and a government in which Radev will be prime minister will take the oath of office in Parliament on May 8.
Kutev, speaking after the meeting with Yotova, said that there will be a new government on May 8.
“We are aware that Bulgarians expect quick action and we are ready for it. It is certain that there will be a government by the end of the week. On Friday, May 8, there will be a new government,” Kutev said.
“The main goals are clear. Of course, the fight against the conquered state and corruption comes first.” he said.
“An extremely important part of our work will be prices and the economic impacts on inflation and the possibilities to somehow control inflation.
“From us you can expect dynamic, fast work in the interest of Bulgarian citizens and in the promotion of statehood. It is extremely important for us to change the model of work in Bulgaria and I think this will become clear extremely quickly. You will see this,” Kutev said.
