President Rumen Radev’s 2-day consultations with representatives of the political forces from the 49^th National Assembly, as part of the constitutional procedure before a mandate is handed over for the formation of a government, are over.

At the first of the three meetings scheduled for today, the representatives of the nationalist party Vazrazhdane stated that a successful rotation spells the unsuccessful development of Bulgaria, saying that the sooner early elections take place the better.

• Vazrazhdane accuses President Radev of not opposing the euro

After the leader of Vazrazhdane Kostadin Kostadinov, Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader Korneliya Ninova also stated that a functioning government cannot be formed by the current parliament because the partners from the “assemblage” are unable to split the positions in the country. Addressing the president, she called for the holding of early elections, saying that the current government was detrimental to Bulgaria, had betrayed the expectations of the voters and had brought agony to the country which can only be put a stop to by early election.

President Radev, consultations with ITN

Once the consultations are over, President Radev is to announce when he is going to hand the first political force in parliament – GERB/SDS a mandate for the formation of a government. The Constitution does not set down any specific deadline for this. However, once GERB/SDS receive the mandate, they will have 7 days in which to propose a composition of the Council of Ministers, or to hand back the mandate unfulfilled. Analysts say that if a government is not formed on this mandate, the chances of a government being formed on a possible second or third mandate is even slimmer, and the chances of an early election increase.

Photos: BTA