President Rumen Radev has concluded consultations with parliamentary groups, as required by the Constitution before he can give the first mandate to form a cabinet.

Today, the President met with representatives of Democracy, Rights and Freedoms (DPS-Ahmed Dogan), There is Such a People (ITN) and Moral Unity and Honour (MECH). Vice-President Iliana Iotova also attended the consultations.

In his meeting with the DPS, the President pointed out that the party was going through a difficult period, but that with the experience it had accumulated over the years in Bulgarian political life, in Parliament and in the governance of the country, it had the potential to contribute to a more effective process in the efforts to form a government. Radev recalled the readiness expressed by GERB-SDS, the first political force in the new Parliament, to invest efforts in the formation of a regular cabinet, adding that Democratic Bulgaria would join this process of dialogue. For his part, DPS leader Dzhevdet Chakarov said that in this fragmented Parliament, the DPS was not particularly optimistic, but would try to form a government. He assured that the group was approaching the current situation seriously and responsibly.

At the meeting with ITN, the head of state asked the party representatives what they thought the chances were of the 51st National Assembly forming a regular government, and what role their faction could play in the process. The group's leader, Toshko Yordanov, insisted that a government should be formed, but not at any price. On his way out of the presidential building, Yordanov said that they would negotiate with everyone except DPS - New Beginning (led by Delyan Peevski).

The talks ended with MECH. At the meeting with them, the head of state pointed out that although they were the smallest group, in the current fragmented parliament every position and every vote counted. For his part, Radostin Vassilev, leader of MECH, stressed that this Parliament was too fragmented and that early elections were the logical conclusion of the situation.