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Cabinet Formation Nears Completion: GERB, BSP, and ITN Likely Participants

The political landscape in Bulgaria is shifting, as key players gear up for the formation of a new government. Tatiaana Doncheva, leader of "Dvizhenie 21," has confirmed that a cabinet is almost ready, with the likelihood of GERB, BSP, and ITN as sure participants.

According to Doncheva, the question remains whether the Democratic Bulgaria (DB) coalition will join the future administration. She underscored that the cabinet in negotiation includes representatives from BSP, GERB, and ITN. The uncertainty lies in securing the remaining votes and potential exits, such as the coalition led by Hristo Ivanov.

Doncheva hinted at the challenges in this political arithmetic, describing the process as a test of political maneuvering. The fate of Ahmed Dogan’s movement, DPS, and the influence of Deyan Peevski’s Coalition for Bulgaria (CfB) remain to be seen.

Doncheva believes that there’s no reason why Dogan would seek behind-the-scenes support for the government. She argues that Peevski’s influence is secured through his people in other political formations, and he is currently at the negotiating table.

However, Doncheva is against the participation of BSP – United Left in such a government. She asserts that the party’s current leaders seem to believe that BSP cannot remain in opposition and must be part of the ruling coalition. Doncheva warning, however, is that whoever becomes the new leader will have to pay off the party’s debts, potentially diminishing its electoral prospects.

The appointment of a new Chief Prosecutor, with Borislav Sarafov being the current front-runner, is also a topic of discussion. Doncheva contends that despite his role as a placeholder for Boyko Borisov and Deyan Peevski, there’s no critical consequence if Sarafov is elected on January 16th. She suggests that the President, Rumen Radev, could refuse to sign the decree, effectively revoking Sarafov’s appointment.

Adding further intrigue, Doncheva mentions that the Constitutional Court’s decision on whether the "Vyezni" (Glory) party enters Parliament may also impact the cabinet’s trajectory. As negotiations continue, the stage is set for a dramatic conclusion to Bulgaria’s political drama.

Headline: Crunch Time for Government Formation: GERB, DBC, BSP, and ITN Set for Crucial Talks as Fresh Elections Loom

Subhead: With multiple parties at the table, Bulgaria braces for another round of negotiations ahead of potential snap polls.

Bulgaria’s political landscape is abuzz as stakeholders gear up for a make-or-break day on Thursday, January 2, 2025. The country’s top parties, including GERB, DBC, BSP, and ITN, are set to reconvene, with the specter of fresh elections hanging over the proceedings.

The ongoing negotiations have seen some progress between GERB and DBC, with both parties expressing a desire to form a stable government. However, sources close to the talks reveal that the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) has tabled demands that have sparked intense discussions, throwing a spanner in the works.

According to a DBC representative, the party is optimistic about its potential coalition with GERB, with a combined 88 deputies in Parliament. However, they concede that securing the support of the PP (There Is Such a People) party is an uphill task. Insiders have described PP’s stance as "de facto obstructive," with their demands deemed by some as "unreasonable" and "endless."

The mood is equally pessimistic regarding a potential coalition involving the controversial "Prolonging the Changes" (PP) party and ITN, which has categorically ruled out any form of association with PP.

Despite the challenges, all parties remain at the negotiating table, with Thursday’s talks likely to focus on hammering out a coalition agreement. Sources close to BSP, however, caution that the party has yet to put forward its proposals, adding another layer of complexity to the negotiations.

The last meeting between GERB and DBC took place on December 30, 2024, with both parties unveiling their draft coalitions agreements. The key priorities outlined in these documents include tackling the public finance crisis, addressing energy issues, judicial reform, battling corruption, and improving water infrastructure. Mechanisms for selecting regulatory bodies also figured prominently in the discussions.

As Bulgaria navigating these politically tumultuous waters, all eyes are on Thursday’s crucial talks. While an optimist might envision a breakthrough leading to a stable government, a more realistic view anticipates a solid legislative framework to guide the country through the remainder of this parliamentary term.

EURnews: Negotiations between GERB and ITN Focus on Regular Government with Full Mandate

A crucial meeting between the negotiation teams of GERB-SDS and ITN took place today, with both sides expressing the need for a regular government with a full management term. This aligns with GERB’s ongoing discussions with other political parties throughout the week, which have included three meetings with "Democrats for Strong Bulgaria" and one with the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) – United Left.

The GERB-SDS team and ITN plan to continue their talks to draft a legislative program. If negotiations conclude successfully, this program will serve as the foundation for a future government agreement. The Facebook post from GERB’s official page highlights the significance of this ongoing process.

PHOTO CAPTION: A meeting between GERB and ITN negotiation teams took place today, as part of their efforts to establish a regular government with a full management term.

Source: GERB Facebook page

GERB leader Boiko Borisov unexpectedly announced that there are prospects for forming a government. GERB has sent invitations to the Democratic Bulgaria (DB), Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), and أقصى التكنولوجيا الجديدة (ITN) for official talks to form a cabinet. Borisov explicitly excludes “Continuity” from this potential future coalition. In parliament corridors, Borisov clarified that there’s a difference between talks and negotiations. He stated that today, GERB’s negotiating team will send letters to parties that showed interest in forming a government, inviting DB, BSP, and ITN. Borisov confirmed that he had discussed the timeline with President Radev, expressing confidence that they wouldfinalize the government successfully. Borisov proposed swift negotiations led by Tomislav Donchev, Raya Nazaryan, Daniel Mitov, and Rosen Zhelyazkov, with separate meetings with each party. However, Borisov refused to discuss former Finance Minister Asen Vassilev, who had allegedly declined to apologize for past actions. Gerb’s surprise move was met with skepticism, as DB denied any talks with GERB.

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Title: Borisov Shockingly Announces Coalition Government with GERB, BSP, and ITN; PPDet Left Disappointed

In a surprising turn of events, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has revealed plans to form a new coalition government in Bulgaria, bringing together his center-right GERB party with the leftist Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the liberal pro-European ITN. This move has left the democratic coalition Party for Bulgaria (PP/DB), which did not make it into the next parliament, feeling bitter and left out.

The New Alliance

Borisov, who has been the country’s Prime Minister since 2009 (with a brief interruption in 2013-2014), made the announcement on Monday, following the 4th of April parliamentary elections. His GERB party emerged as the largest party, but fell short of an overall majority. The BSP finished a close second, while the ITN, led by former Bizones President Rumen Radev, secured a significant number of seats.

In a joint press conference, the three parties declared they would work together towards a "strong and stable government" that would focus on "欧洲一体化 [Europeanization], economic growth, and the rule of law." The new coalition, which has been dubbed the "3+1" government due to the disproportionate GERB majority, is expected to be sworn in within the next few weeks.

PP/DB Reaction

Meanwhile, the PP/DB coalition, led by former prime minister Kiril Petkov and veteran politician Asen Vasilev, is left out in the cold. Despite their strong showing in the elections, securing over 26% of the vote, they found themselves unable to form a government with only 68 out of 240 seats in the National Assembly.

"We’re disappointed, but not surprised," said a spokesperson from the PP/DB, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Borisov will do whatever it takes to stay in power, even if it means forming a cynical coalition with his political enemies. We had better aspirations for this country."

The spokesperson also raised concerns about the new government’s composition and policies: "We had hoped that a center-left, pro-European coalition could finally bring real change to Bulgaria. However, we now have a government that includes extremist elements and is unlikely to push for crucial reforms."

What’s Next?

The new coalition, despite its unexpected nature, enjoys a comfortable majority in parliament, raising questions about its longevity and the potential for policy disagreements between the partners. While the radical nationalist party Vytnarעו Peninsula renders certain policies off-limits, the coalition’s policy on Europe, economic reforms, and corruption remains to be seen.

For the PP/DB, the next challenge is to consolidate its position as the main opposition force and maintain the momentum it gained during the election campaign. In the meantime, the political landscape in Bulgaria continues to shift, with surprise alliances and unexpected power dynamics.

Today, it was clarified that no discussions have taken place regarding the formation of a cabinet, or at least none that have been made public until now. Boiko Borisov’s latest statement suggests he is talking to some parties, but not “Ima takyv narod” (ITN). In response to questions about whether they would accept a third term if offered, ITN’s Tochko Yordanov stated that while all political parties entering parliament consider participation in executive power, the current focus is far from that point. The responsibility lies with GERB, the winning party of the elections. Regarding the budget, Stanislav Balabanov from ITN emphasized the need for a clear majority to govern the country before a budget can be realistically discussed. Both Yordanov and Balabanov agreed that a regular cabinet is necessary for a budget that aligns with financial realities, and criticized the poor financial state left by the previous government led by Asen Vasiliev.

Title: Tosho Jordanov: Borisov Engages with No Parties, But Not Ours

Introduction

In the ever-dynamic political landscape of Bulgaria, the name Tosho Jordanov is often synonymized with defiance, integrity, and the upholding of democratic values. A prominent figure in Bulgarian politics, Jordanov, a former chief secretary of the GERB party, hasолован an impending chasm between himself and the party’s leadership, headed by Boyko Borisov, the current Prime Minister of Bulgaria. This schism was recently exemplified by Jordanov’s publicly stated phrase, "Borisov is talking to no parties, but not ours."

The Rift

Jordanov’s statement reflecting the party’s disillusionment with Borisov’s leadership comes at a time when Bulgaria’s politics are marked by deep-seated divisions. The tensions within the GERB party have been simmering for some time, primarily due to Borisov’s perceived autocratic style of leadership and his party’s alleged involvement in corruption scandals.

Jordanov’s statement, "Borisov engagaes with no parties, but not ours," was a candid admission of the party’s alienation from its own leader. It echoed the sentiment of discontent within GERB, indicating that the party has been excluded from Borisov’s decision-making processes. This claim was further substantiated by Jordonov’s assertion that Borisov had unilaterally decided to form a coalition government, bypassing the party’s collective voice.

The Aftermath

The repercussions of Jordonov’s remarks have been significant. His stance has been lauded by critics of Borisov’s leadership, who view him as a voice of reason and integrity in Bulgaria’s politics. However, it has also drawn ire from those who view his actions as a form of disloyalty to Borisov and the GERB party.

Despite the backlash, Jordanov has stood firm in his beliefs, stating that he is committed to preserving the democratic values and the integrity of the GERB party. He has called for a return to the collective leadership model, where the party’s decision-making processes are democratized and the voice of each member is heard.

Conclusion

Tosho Jordanov’s statement, "Borisov engagaes with no parties, but not ours," marks a pivotal moment in Bulgaria’s political landscape. It signifies a rift within the GERB party, mirroring the broader ethical and political divisions in Bulgarian society. Whether Jordonov’s stance will lead to significant changes in the party’s dynamics or in Bulgarian politics remains to be seen. However, his voice has undoubtedly added a new dimension to the ongoing debate about democratic values, transparency, and accountability in Bulgarian politics.