GERB-SDS has reaffirmed its decision not to enter into negotiations with another party with a mandate to form a government, after Mariya Gabriel officially withdrew her candidacy for prime minister. 

The largest group in Parliament made its stand clear in response to an announcement by the PP-DB that it was ready to try to form a government with the second mandate "with a prime minister nominated by GERB-SDS and acceptable to both sides".  

GERB insisted that it had already made enough concessions. "As the winners of the elections, we, GERB-SDS, have decided not to propose a cabinet during the first mandate, but to extend our support to a government with the second mandate of the PP-DB," GERB said, recalling the consensus reached nine months ago to form a power-sharing government.