Day 2 of President's consultations: 'Vazrazhdane' and BSP express readinesss to receive third mandate, if it comes to that

Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev met two of the smaller parties in Parliament on June 25 as part of the consultations before he hands over a mandate to seek to form a government. The representatives of "Vazrazhdane" and the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) declared their readiness to receive the third mandate - Kostadin Kostadinov, to propose an anti-GERB-UDF and MRF government. And BSP - an expert cabinet of national consensus.

The leader of "Vazrazhdane" said they would seek broad anti-GERB-UDF and MRF support. They expect the support of 125 MPs. According to Kostadin Kostadinov, such a draft cabinet will be a stress test for the Bulgarian political system.

Kostadin Kostadinov - chairman of "Vazrazhdane": "We have clearly and categorically stated that we want the third mandate, in case of failure of the first and second mandate, and we are ready to talk with all the other political forces in the National Assembly, without GERB-UDF and MRF, for the formation of a broad cabinet with a consensus figure for Prime Minister. The big problem that we have is that we have two huge stones that are lying on the Bulgarian political system and crushing it - GERB-UDF and the MRF."

President Rumen Radev reminded that yesterday “We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria” (WCC-DB) had refused support for "Vazrazhdane" because of insurmountable political differences and noted that the number was thus reduced by 38. He asked them how they would work with "Velichie" party, which they claim is under the influence of a foreign state.

Rumen Radev - President of the Republic of Bulgaria: "We have to make a difference between desire and possibilities and that is why with your ambition for the third mandate it is good to talk with these political forces on this anti-GERB-UDF - MRF coalition to find a common approach and after we see the result then we can discuss the third mandate again."

Kostadinov told the media that “Vazrazhdane” held talks with “prominent figures” in WCC-DB for a government without GERB-UDF and MRF. However, he did not specify who the people were.

Kostadinov used the meeting to ask the President why he had not heeded their request to convene a Consultative Council for National Security on the election of a new Patriarch. "Vazrazhdane" suspects foreign interference in the work of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

The President assured him that he had made a special enquiry and received a reply that there was no such threat:

"Let the church be independent, as it is under the Constitution, and under the Religions Act. And in general, politicians who can't deal with secular issues, I'm not referring to you directly, I'm talking in general, should at least not mess around and try to deal with the spiritual ones."

"BSP for Bulgaria" is the fifth parliamentary group with which the head of state met for consultations as part of the process before handing over the government forming mandate.

"Despite the challenging moment in which your parliamentary group finds itself, you are the oldest systemic party with rich parliamentary experience, how do you view the possibilities for getting out of the political crisis?" asked President Rumen Radev.

BSP announced that they are working to unite the left-wing party and confirmed that they will not support a government with a mandate of GERB-UDF and MRF. They also declared their willingness to work for the third mandate.

Atanas Zafirov - acting chairman of the BSP: "We confirmed our readiness, if it comes to a third mandate, the BSP as a wise, dialogical party with a history, to actively participate in the dialogue between the political forces to form an expert nationally responsible, pro-Bulgarian government."

Tomorrow President Radev will hold talks with "There is Such a People" and "Velichie".

Images by Dessislava Kulelieva (BNT); BTA

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On June 24, President Radev met representatives of the three largest groups in Bulgaria's 50th Parliament – GERB-UDF, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), and We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (WCC-DB).

Under the Constitution, the first two mandates go to the two largest groups in Parliament, GERB-UDF and MRF. If they fail to form a government, the President hands over the third mandate to a parliamentary group at his discretion. If it fails too, a caretaker government is appointed and parliamentary elections are scheduled within two months.