"The governance programme will continue to be implemented over the next nine months. We are only halfway through," said Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov, reporting on the work of the outgoing government.

Denkov said that he and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel would do everything possible to ensure a smooth transition of power in the government, with minimum disruption, so that joint work could continue. According to Denkov, the outgoing Cabinet had reported publicly every month on the website of the Council of Ministers, and the results were there for all to see - 56% of the government's measures had been implemented. Denkov congratulated all women on the occasion of International Women's Day - 8 March, saying "we respect you and we love you".

For her part, Mariya Gabriel stressed that open dialogue was the most direct way to overcome differences and that united efforts produced more sustainable results. She said that GERB had supported a cabinet that many considered impossible, but that this step had been taken for the sake of the country's stability. Mr Gabriel thanked Prime Minister Denkov for the joint work and the constructive tone they had managed to maintain.