NEWS

Rosen Plevneliev: the potential of the 41st National Assembly is now seen as depleted

The potential of the 41st National Assembly is now seen as depleted. However, a possible caretaker government will be formed by strict adherence to the procedure stipulated in the Republic of Bulgaria’s Constitution. This is what President Rosen Plevneliev said after he opened the consultations with representatives of the parliamentary groups on giving an exploratory mandate for forming a government within the current National Assembly. On Monday, 25 February, Rosen Plevneliev will hand down the mandate for forming a government to the GERB political party. In case the party gives up its mandate, the mandate will be handed down to the second largest parliamentary group in the National Assembly. The third political party that will receive the mandate if the first two parties fail to fulfill their mandates, is the Rights and Freedoms Movement, the president said.

The end of April and mid-May 2013 was set as the possible period for holding an early general election. The specific date on which early general election will be held will be fixed after the political forces, the Central Electoral Commission and the Presidential institution hold joint consultations next week.  Until then current National Assembly will continue its work by making legislative amendments that are regarded as priority issues in terms of public interest.  The currently outlined priority issues are the amendments to the Energy Law that will remove the legal obstacles to correcting electricity prices, which were the reasons for the social tension in the past weeks. The priority tasks also include the Energy Efficiency Law as well as the possible moratorium imposed on construction works along the Black Sea Coast. Until 25 February talks will be held on other priority legal amendments that the National Assembly should debate so that a future caretaker cabinet is provided the opportunity to work under normal conditions, the head of state informed.

The basic tasks a possible caretaker cabinet should perform involve measures to curb the crisis “in all its aspects” by ensuring a full transparency and democracy of the electoral process, maintaining the country’s financial stability, guaranteeing the collection of revenues in the state budget, implementing the projects under the operational programs.  In case a caretaker cabinet is formed, its priorities will be announced in due time, President Rosen Plevneliev pointed out.

The participants in the consultations agreed on the proposal to invite a mission of observers to monitor the upcoming general election in the country, including representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe which will promote the legitimacy of the elections and thus protect public interests. Actions should be taken to meet the needs of the Central Electoral Commission so that its efficiency and normal functioning during the election is guaranteed.
The President further stated that effective mechanisms for exerting civilian control are to be debated. The political parties will also express their opinions based on their own programs.

The participants in the consultations held at the President’s Office further called for maintaining the financial and institutional stability, taking on the clear commitment to secure the overall stability in the country. In the head of state’s words, this involved the political parties’ commitment to holding a dialogue with their supporters.  “I will work so that the political crisis is promptly overcome and the institutions function normally,” President Rosen Plevneliev firmly stated. He said that the dialogue with representatives of the parliamentary groups in the 41st National Assembly was honest and open.