Will there be a cabinet? The parties's reactions to the proposal for "cordon sanitaire" around Peevski

The idea of We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (WCC-DB) to create a "cordon sanitaire" around Delyan Peevski provoked reactions from other political players.

“We are witnessing a large-scale abuse. We actually have a party which, if we had working institutions, would not be in Parliament," We Continue the Change Co-chair, Kiril Petkov, told a press conference on October 29.

Petkov was referring to the Movement for Rights and Freedoms - New Beginning coalition, chaired by Delyan Peevski. In Petkov's words, Peevski could not have achieved such a result in the elections given his low public approval rating and could not have secured a place in Parliament without vote buying.

Kiril Petkov called for a "cordon sanitaire" around Peevski's party, namely for the other parliamentary groups in the 51st Parliament to sign a declaration that they will not work with MRF-New Beginning in the future Parliament in any form.

Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning Chairman, Delyan Peevski, said he would not allow to be isolated. In a written position to the media on October 30, he announced that nearly 300,000 Bulgarians had voted for MRF - New Beginning and he would not allow them to be segregated or deprived of the right to representation in government.

GERB-UDF did not comment, noting that WCC-DB did not have a Prime Minister equally remote from all parties. Vazrazhdane will give support if they get support to preserve the Bulgarian lev and the Thermal Power Plants. The Bulgarian Socialist Party described the WCC-DB idea as a PR stunt. Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh) give consent for a sanitary cordon, they even propose to expand it with GERB and the MRF two factions. With these dividing lines and political demands being drawn, what is the main line that emerges for the future government?

According to the results of the elections, the first political force GERB-UDF will be leading in the formation of a government. They have already declared on election night that all formations that entered the Parliament and support GERB-UDF’s programme are potential partners. Despite the difficult relations and mistrust with WCC-DB, they still emerge as the most likely partner. It is not clear yet which the third party needed for support would be. Today, Ahmed Dogan from the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF) told BNT that he would support a tandem between GERB-UDF and WCC-DB. But the options of attracting any of the other formations, except Vazrazhdane, are not excluded.

Yesterday, WCC-DB set a condition that they would not support the election of a Speaker of Parliament and Deputy Speakers before all parties sign declarations outlining a sanitary cordon around Peevski and not to work with him.

Behind the WCC-DB's condition for now stand BSP, who say that until recently WCC-DB ruled together with Peevski, and now dissociate themselves from him.

The leader of Vazrazhdane responded to the condition with a condition - to sign for the preservation of the Bulgarian lev and the TPPs and the coal industry. "There is Such a People" (TISP) have not yet commented on the sanitary cordon, there is only Slavi Trifonov's assurance (TISP leader) that he will make efforts for a positive result. On the other hand, the MECh party drew a line of demarcation with both GERB and the two wings of the MRF.

The GERB-UDF reminded on Facebook that with yesterday's statement, WCC-DB had only shown that the equidistant from all parties Prime Minister was a mythical and not a specific figure.

If the reports that have emerged about an internal split in WCC-DB turn out to be true and develop over time, this will also contribute to the difficulty of forming a government after the seventh elections held in the past three years. And the challenges are many - state budget, judicial reform and replacement of the management of regulators, whose terms in office have expired.

WCC-DB have not yet written and sent the declaration. Delyan Peevski announced that he will not allow to be isolated from the political life of the country. Thus, in a written position to the media, he responded to the call of WCC-DB to create a "cordon sanitaire" around him.

"The despair and fears of the failed political leaders and their formations have erupted in a dangerous direction for democracy and the rule of law in Bulgaria. In the face of the limited trust they receive from the voters, once again, instead of humbling themselves and looking for a way out in the formation of a regular cabinet and the stability that the people have urgently demanded from their politicians, the failed ones want power, but the "second way". At the cost of everything. At the cost of peace and stability !?

At the cost of violating the Constitution !? At the price of taking away civil rights!?", Peevski's position reads.

"As the leader of those nearly 300 000 Bulgarian citizens who gave their trust to "MRF - New Beginning", to all those Bulgarians, Turks and Roma who gave us this very serious responsibility - to protect and defend them and their interests, I will not allow anyone to turn them again into second class people or to take away their right to live in a peaceful and free Bulgaria. Neither will I allow anyone to isolate or segregate them or take away their right to representation in the power. Moreover, it is unacceptable and unconstitutional to take away a fundamental freedom - everyone to choose and be chosen. No one can divide people on ethnic or religious grounds," Peevski stressed.

"I will not give up, together with everyone from 'MRF - New Beginning' to protect and fulfill our commitments to these people - for a better life, for security and justice. I am proud of the fact that they have given me their trust and I will defend their rights as their leader by all democratic means," the position reads.

GERB-UDF did not respond specifically to the call of WCC-DB. They reminded only laconically.

"GERB's positions were stated on election night. There is no new situation to comment on. The only new thing is the WCC-DB's admission that they do not have an equally remote (from all political parties) Prime Minister. A fallacy they have been ranting about throughout the election campaign and yesterday they admitted."

In response to WCC-DB's conditions, Vazrazhdane party in turn put a condition for of support.

BSP expressed reservations about the WCC-DB's motivation for proposing this idea (about the sanitary cordon).

"We take a firm line against Delyan Peevski and against Boyko Borissov (GERB-UDF leader).

The only problem and something that worries me is that this action of WCC-DB seems a bit PR-ish, because until yesterday they were together with MRF and Delyan Peevski as I said, changing the Constitution, they let him “take over” the country and at one point they talk about dividing lines and how we will not sit with him anymore," Gabriel Valkov - "BSP - United Left" was adamant.

Regarding the proposal for a "cordon sanitaire" around the MRF-New Beginning chaired by Delyan Peevski, MRF Honorary chairman Dogan commented that the AFR have already made this move.

Apart from us, who made this sanitary cordon, so far we do not know who was involved. Why are you asking me if we should join, at this stage we are the only ones," said Ahmed Dogan, honorary chairman of the MRF.

TISP did not comment on the issue. MECh party are ready to bury the tomahawks with WCC-DB and suggest that the sanitary cordon be extended.