The leaders of the pro-European parties We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria are both ready to form a minority government if Boyko Borrissov’s GERB fails to form one first, they announced Wednesday.
GERB won the early elections in October but does not have a majority in parliament and is not likely to succeed in forming a government. We Continue the Change came second and Democratic Bulgaria was their partner in the last four-party ruling coalition that was ousted by a no-confidence vote in the summer.
We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria have not sought support for a minority government from specific political forces, but have announced several preconditions for legislative support in parliament by Christmas. It is likely GERB will support such a government even though We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria strongly oppose the idea of an official coalition with Borissov’s party which they say is embroiled in corruption.
According to Democratic Bulgaria Co-Chairman Hristo Ivanov, a minority government is a bad option, but an even worse one would be a cabinet of the “paper coalition” or another early election.
The “paper coalition” nickname was given to the three parties – GERB, Turkish minority DPS and the socialist party BSP, which stood behind the return of voting with paper ballots that allow for easier abuse during elections.
“We have to find a formula of hope that there can be not just some government, but a government that will move the country forward. We are aware that it may turn out to be impossible,” Ivanov said.
We Continue the Change leaders Kiril Petkov and Asen Vasilev announced that the parliament must find a majority to support several measures such as guarantees for a minority cabinet.
(Krassen Nikolov | EURACTIV.bg)
Source: euractiv.com
