Tsvetan Tsvetanov, the leader of the GERB group in parliament, announced that a memorandum for cooperation had been discussed during consultations held on Wednesday with the leaders of the centre-right 'Blue Coalition', but he insisted that this was in no way a binding agreement.
"The chosen formula is a government of our own, with substantial parliamentary support," Tsvetanov explained. He added that he hoped support could easily be secured, as GERB intended to govern in a transparent way.
"Coalitions in Bulgaria do not enjoy high esteem," Tsvetanov said.
Many Bulgarians refer to the former tripartite coalition as '8:5:3', a formula according to which posts or lucrative contracts were awarded according to the size of the partner.
The leaders of the 'Blue Coalition’ expressed their disappointment that an opportunity had been missed to form a joint government, and voiced fears that a minority cabinet would be exposed to risks.
"We are worried, because there are difficult decisions ahead of us," said Martin Dimitrov, one of the 'Blue Coalition' leaders.
Tsvetanov added that although other parties would not be represented in the next cabinet, it still would be open to experts from parties other than GERB for ministerial posts and other important positions. He also indicated that GERB will hold similar consultations with 'Ataka' and RZS (see 'Background'). The only parties excluded from the consultations appear to be former coalition members.
The media reported that GERB is seeking the support of the 'Blue Coalition', 'Ataka' and RZS on nine priorities, the first of these being investigating the dealings of the former cabinet, as well as dubious decisions by previous governments, in an attempt to bring to justice the authors of any misdeeds uncovered.
Asked by journalists whether such a partnership with 'Ataka', which stands accused by other politicians of being a racist and anti-Semitic party, would not create problems vis-à-vis EU and NATO, Tsvetanov explained that GERB was "taking into account the wishes of the electorate" and "seeking to gather a large support".
The country's president, Georgi Parvanov, will hand over the mandate for forming a government to GERB leader Boyko Borissov today (16 July). According to the constitution, Borissov will have seven days to form a cabinet.
Ladies in high positions
Borissov announced his intention to appoint Kristalina Georgieva, currently vice-president and corporate secretary for the World Bank Group, as deputy prime minister. It is however unclear whether she will take up the offer at such short notice.
The newly elected Bulgarian MPs met for the first session of the new parliament on Wednesday, electing Tsetska Tsacheva, a little-known lawyer from the northern city of Pleven and a GERB activist, as its chairman. Tsacheva is the first woman to lead the Bulgarian parliament. She was elected with 226 votes in favour amid only three abstentions.
Tsacheva was a member of the Communist Party until 1989 and immediately thereafter became a member of the anti-Communist SDS.
"True, I was member of the Bulgarian Communist Party, but I am not ashamed of that because these were times when the party and the state were one and the same thing. I worked as an expert and I am not ashamed of that," said Tsacheva on national TV.
