GERB’s Toma Bikov discusses government formation and Asen Vasilev’s role

“We’re getting a serious level of agreement on both the legislative agenda and the governance agenda. When conversations are had, it’s done sincerely. But when some people go on TV and start talking about how people with GERD don’t have right to be part of the executive branch, it does not make a good impression and stops the whole process… I think the way the communications between us are going is leading to the implementation of the first mandate. We are ready to govern with PP – DB on parity principle, we have no intention of caring and serving them in any way”. This is what Toma Bikov from GERB told BNR.

And he pointed out that Asen Vasilev is to blame for the situation we are in at the moment, as well as for Bulgaria’s non-entry into the Eurozone. “My personal opinion is that Asen Vassilev should not participate in the government. This does not mean that the option should be excluded – a coalition government with parity between the two formations. However, the center of the conversation is how Kiril Petkov and Asen Vassilev want to be ministers , and this should not be the case. The composition of the cabinet could include both party and expert nominations. Our intention is not to play tricks, but to create a stable structure that will last for four years. This is a way to overcome the political crisis… If they cannot live without Asen Vassilev as minister, we will have to come up with people who are able to control him. He cannot be controlled by one person, people are needed to prevent him to bankrupt the state. The finance minister should either be from GERB or be an undisputed specialist in finance… I don’t see who will support an independent government of the second political force. Their proposals are absurd”.

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According to Toma Bikov, the silence of the DB is a strong sign and argument that there cannot be an independent PP government. “The construction of 64 deputies is not monolithic and does not have one opinion. I do not see then with what self-confidence the Changers want to participate in a government, both independently and with a minority government. To have such a government, you must have relatively healthy channels of communication with the other parliamentary forces. You have to have a monolithic parliamentary group that tends to make sometimes unpopular decisions. You also have to have people who implement the policies.”

He clarified that GERB has at least four options with the personnel composition of the Council of Ministers. “We have both a party and a non-party government. With a minority government, a better option is for it to have party weight”.

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The prime minister should be an equal political figure, he concluded.