“Leaders of major parliamentary formations meet to discuss government formation in Bulgaria”

The first official meeting between the leaders of the two largest parliamentary formations ended with a promise by Boyko Borisov that the first political force GERB can fulfill the wish of “We continue the change – Democratic Bulgaria” (PP-DB) and support a government with a second term if it likes its draft composition. Therefore, the PP-DB was given homework to present the prime minister and ministers. The condition is that this should be done before GERB receives the first mandate.

“We continue the change-Democratic Bulgaria” stated that they should consult in their party bodies to decide whether a similar model of action is possible. However, on their initiative, GERB agreed to start work on management program.

It is not clear whether Borisov is bluffing and whether he will decide on an alliance with DPS, BSP and ITN, if the PP-DB do not fulfill the condition that practically imputes to them the responsibility for the first mandate.

The meeting held in the parliament was completely open to the media and the two political forces played to please the public and without waiting for conflicting topics. Borisov dominated the conversation and behaved markedly large and familiar with the leaders of the PP.

“Mr. Petkov and I have forgiven each other”, he noted, while Asen Vasilev was mentioned as a person with whom it is good to work. How Borisov knows these things is not clear.

“Whether it’s the first term or the second, it doesn’t matter, the important thing is to have a working government”he said.

Borisov’s terms to PP-DB

A little later, Borisov gave a briefing to his deputies at the party headquarters and stated:

“We must be aware – either with our cabinet composition or with their cabinet composition. If we don’t have it by then, we will offer our minority government, so we can see if something good can be put together.”

Rotational government

With the argument that “only a non-standard solution can get us out of the total crisis”, the GERB leader even launched non-standard management formula – on a rotating basis between the first and second coalitionon the basis of the agreement on the rotating presidency in the new parliament.

Borisov announced that they will initiate meetings with PP-DB also on the management program, along with the specified legislative one, in order to look for additional opportunities for a stable management formula: “The minimum program is a budget, adopted laws (under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan – note) and only then should we go to elections and start over. A maximum program is to sensibly make a good political expert government“Borisov also said.

Then he specified that “experts are politicians” because “if he is a very good expert, he sits in the company and earns his money, he probably doesn’t do such work”.

His statement sounds like a signal that GERB might support a cabinet not with leaders, but with politicians from the PP-DB.

This comes against the background of unofficial information that the PP believes that their direct participation in a government with their mandate would guarantee the implementation of the set policies.

On Tuesday evening, Borisov addressed his deputies with the words: “Don’t leave the impression that we are not opponents, or that we are not opponents, or that something has changed in the firmness of the two parties.”

However, he spoke favorably of one of his opponents from yesterday. “Especially with Asen Vassilev, you can work because he feels what they did wrong and how it can be corrected”said the GERB leader.

According to him, for now there is no progress on the government, there is progress on the management program.

“If you offer a cabinet we like…”

“If you present a cabinet that we like, we have a topic to talk about.” Borisov said during the leadership meeting.

Kiril Petkov, for his part, once again said that “the first mandate of GERB cannot be supported”. He said that the coalition PP-DB will first wait for the actions under the first mandate of GERB-SDS.

“We don’t want to seize the initiative. The first mandate is with you”said Petkov.
The other co-chairman of the PP Asen Vasilev added that the PP-DB coalition will have to discuss whether to propose a draft cabinet before the second term comes.

“Proposing the composition of a cabinet from the second force before the first term is not a traditional approach. We have to discuss it with the party authorities”pointed out Asen Vassilev.

“What both in the past National Assembly and now – we are ready to talk about policies, a budget deficit of 3% is a possible goal that must be achieved. There are also other sectoral policies in energy, as well as justice reform and services . We responded to this meeting to talk about these issues.”said Kiril Petkov.

“Mr. Petkov and I have forgiven each other”

Boyko Borisov added that “we have to find a way for a government, whether with the first term or with the second”.

“The situation is non-standard, that’s why the proposals are non-standard, the solutions are also non-standard. In this case, the first and the second are irrelevant. You can see for yourself – if we don’t agree on the budget, and only we can agree, it’s a 3% deficit and it’s consolidated, who else will we rely on? Whether it is the first term or the second, it does not matter, the important thing is to have a working government. Mr. Petkov and I have forgiven each other, so nothing in our relationship prevents us from doing a good job, whatever it was. If you offer a cabinet and we like it, that’s another topic of conversation. If you have had talks with the other parties, you should also tell us that.”Borisov said.

“Going to new elections will lead to the same situation. The next important topic is to use the time to commit to a budget with a 3% deficit. We have to do it together and be responsible”added Borisov.

And a management program

Asen Vassilev proposed to develop, in addition to a legislative program, a clear management program of what a government should do.

“If we have to offer you the composition of a cabinet to guide you for the first term, we also need to know what program it will implement.” he pointed out.

In response, Boyko Borisov pointed out that Vassilev’s proposal is very reasonable and should be continued in this spirit.

Is there another option

The leader of GERB practically rejected the idea launched in recent days by the PP-DB unification to nominate a minority cabinet, and GERB to get the leading roles in the parliamentary committees and thus have some control over the government.

“We will control any government through the parliament anyway, that’s our job. This is not a privilege that is given to us. There are 4 other parties in the parliament. In this way, we can form a very powerful opposition. If you have another option outside of us for support, you should also say. It is good that you present us with a cabinet line-up so that we can see what you propose – prime minister, ministers, on the basis of which we can think.” Borisov also said.

His words come after a few days ago he lifted the curtain on a possible back-up option for support for the GERB cabinet, if an agreement with PP-DB is not reached.

The conversation about the budget and the laws

Tomislav Donchev from GERB said that achieving a 3% deficit is not a matter of technical details, but also requires some “unflattering reforms” and asked if there is a majority to support these reforms.

Asen Vasilev pointed out again that the budget proposed by the caretaker government involves serious capital expenditures and no revenues have been reported.

Both coalitions announced their willingness to work on the budget and with the Finance Ministry team.

Kiril Petkov expressed hope that the laws on which GERB-SDS and PP-DB have agreed on the legislative program of the 49th National Assembly will be moved.

“If we can get these bills through committees and the floor in these next days, it will be a very good first step to show that we are moving from words to action.” said Petkov.

How did it get here?

Since the elections, Boyko Borisov has been repeating that he wants a GERB government with PP-DB, because that would be the most stable and good government for the country. However, he does not hide that there is also a “B” plan, which he has specified at the moment, but foresees management between GERB, DPS, BSP and ITN.

“We continue the change – Democratic Bulgaria” have a preliminary decision not to support a government with the mandate or the participation of GERB, but they are ready to offer a minority government with the second mandate.

It seems that Borisov’s goal is to have a clear answer from PP-DB about joint management even before receiving the first mandate. The new coalition is clearly aware of the trap that GERB is trying to lead it into, imputing responsibility for the first mandate to the second political force.

Last week, the first and second political forces entered into unprecedented negotiations and agreed on a common legislative program for the first session of the National Assembly. They reached a general agreement on the budget for 2023. In addition, they jointly elected Rosen Zhelyazkov from GERB as Speaker of the Parliament and agreed that after three months he would be replaced by a representative of PP-DB.

Meanwhile, “Promyanata” and DB keep repeating that these talks do not mean that their position of not supporting the first mandate has changed.

Thus, on Friday, Borisov resorted to a new tactic and insisted that the PP and DB from now on say with whom they would try to form a government with the second term and gave a signal that it is not excluded that GERB will support, but under certain conditions. In this way, he actually wanted to make PP and DB state clearly and directly that they wanted support from GERB.

“Until GERB changes its attitude towards corruption, we cannot manage together”the co-chairman of the PP-DB parliamentary group Nikolay Denkov said on Saturday.

The same day GERB tested a new offer. Rosen Zhelyazkov announced that GERB are ready not to propose a government with the first mandate, if the PP-DB say that a general government can be formed with the second mandate. “PP-DB are ashamed of support from GERB, that’s how it seems to me. And they don’t want GERB to be involved at the facade level”he also admitted.

A little later that day, Borisov also lifted the curtain on his plan “B”: “Either we do it with PP and DB, or the parties have to make a decision and all together at least for a month, two or three – to form a government that will pull the country out of the mud”. His statement coincides with the unofficial information that, in parallel with his talk of governing with the PP-DB, they are working on a governing formula with the BSP, DPS and ITN, to be presented as a supra-party expert government.

Since Saturday, representatives of GERB continue to indicate management with PP-DB as the first option, but add that they stand “all possible options for forming a government”.

GERB insists on “shared responsibility” with PP-DB, that is, to have ministers in the cabinet. The second largest political force rejects such an approach and proposes a minority government and Borissov’s party to have heads of parliamentary committees.

The co-chairman of the PP-DB MPs Atanas Atanasov urged GERB not to try to set conditions for them before they have returned the first mandate.

“We will not support the first term, as well as a government staffed by Boyko Borisov, these are our conditions”he insisted.

The politicians from GERB claim that “the thesis for the second term is extravagant”.

Meanwhile, President Rumen Radev has announced that he will delay handing over the first mandate.