GERB to propose coalition agreement to We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria

The leader of power sharing party GERB, Boyko Borissov, said that his party is responsible and that is why within 10 days he will propose to “We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria” (WCC-DB) a draft for coalition agreement. It will include the requirement that ministers in the cabinet be selected on the principles of electoral weight, expressed through the MPs in Parliament - the number of ministers in the government to be proportionate to the weight of the political parties in Parliament. Borissov stressed that people vote in elections not for the composition of the regulators, but for the governance of the country and members of the government.

He explained that the proposed agreement will cover the term in office of the Council of Ministers.

“We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria” want to read carefully the proposal of GERB-UDF. Petkov wrote to Borissov yesterday.

"And I told him: it's time to sit down to talk. The next prime minister must be Mariya Gabriel. I would urge GERB to work faster, more diligently, so that we have the opportunity to sit down to talk together this weekend. Until then, I cannot accept anything until we actually see what they propose,” Petkov said.

BNT: Do you accept a coalition agreement for the whole term?

- I want to see exactly what that means, because in our case we did it very publicly, I understood that they were going to give it to us formally," said Kiril Petkov - co-chair of the WCC.

Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov said he expected a successful rotation.

"What is creating more tension is how these positions will be filled in the National Assembly, related to the anti-corruption commission, the SJC, the prosecutorial council and the relevant regulators. Resigning on the sixth of March means sending a letter to the National Assembly saying I resign. So, of course, I will do it," Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov said.

Denkov is ready with his assessment of the ministers and by the end of the week they will review it together with Mariya Gabriel.

"This cabinet, which has governed Bulgaria for the recent 9 months, was actually chosen in a similar way after discussions with Mrs Gabriel and with the party leaders. Some of these ministers have been proposed by Mrs Gabriel and we have agreed with them. So, the only reason I am not saying who they are is only because this team should work together and should not be divided into ours and yours," Denkov said.

Borissov also made an analysis of the ministers - in relation to their trips abroad.

"Kiril Vatev (Minister of Agriculture) – 24 trips, while farmers were fighting with milk and tomatoes in the streets. The Minister of Tourism - over 50 trips - is that a minister of tourism is for - to travel. Mariya Gabriel – 30 trips. So the foreign minister has less trips than most ministers in the cabinet," Borissov said.

"The other minister who Borissov has attacked is the one who is looking for investment. Where should he look for them at home or abroad?" asked Kiril Petkov.

When Denkov and Gabriel are fully ready and have a common opinion, then they will go and talk to the leaders of the parties from the ruling majority, the PM said.