“I am ready to hold consultations with the parliamentary groups as early as Thursday, 23 May, until the end of the day. Henceforth I will not delay handing the mandate for forming a government to a candidate for prime minister nominated by the biggest parliamentary group.” This is what President Rosen Plevneliev said in an address to the people and the National Assembly delivered from the parliamentary rostrum. The Head of State attended the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected Assembly Deputies and the first solemn meeting of the 42nd Ordinary National Assembly. “I expect that the government, the National Assembly and all institutions will work together to solve the pressing problems the nation is faced with,” the President said in his address.
Rosen Plevneliev called on all Assembly Deputies to adopt a Declaration of the main priorities of the 42nd National Assembly in the spirit of the good traditions. “Such a document will be a strong sign that the state will preserve its strategic priorities with regard to Bulgaria’s worthy membership in the European Union and NATO, accession to the Schengen zone, preservation of the currency board until the euro is adopted, the securing of macroeconomic stability, supporting investments, employment, income and pensions, as well as denouncing xenophobia, racism, anti-Semitism and all other manifestations of extremism and intolerance,” the President emphasized.
The Head of State recalled that the protests against the monopolies and the electricity bills clearly showed the agenda of the institutions. “They showed that the Bulgarian people will not tolerate behind-the-scene arrangements, and will never tolerate political agreements based on vague rules. You are to pass important laws. Civil society must participate in decision making,” Rosen Plevneliev said. The President was adamant that in order to restore public trust, the politicians must fulfill what they have promised in a public and transparent manner.
In his address the President said that the new parliament and government will be assessed in the first place for the solutions they will offer in the energy and social sector. What is also necessary is to build on what has already been achieved in the European funds, the macroeconomic stability and the policies for a rapid construction of an up-to-date infrastructure.
Even before the next government is formed, the political parties in the 42nd National Assembly must answer the question of how they will guarantee the pursuit of policies for increasing the incomes and supporting those in need, the Head of State thinks. According to him, this is done not only by means of providing help, but also by creating conditions for a real, high quality and stable employment. “This is done by the business, not the state. However, the state has to perform its important role for improving the business environment, for creating a good climate for entrepreneurship and investments,” Rosen Plevneliev added.
The President said he supported consistent efforts in improving the work of the administration and institutions to secure “efficient partnership with the business environment and the investors”, in completing the e-government, in securing a strong and independent judiciary, in pursuing a purposeful policy in support of the small and medium-sized business. “Predictability is the most important factor to boost investments and create jobs. As long as there is an apparent insecurity and instability in this country, there is no way that consumption and investments, which are the basic drivers of economic growth, may be stimulated” Rosen Plevneliev was adamant.
The Head of State further called on the Assembly Deputies to complete the reforms and adopt the necessary laws in the education sector, in healthcare, in the water sector, in the security sector. It is necessary to take on the commitment to promptly debate new legislative initiatives, including the Law on Innovations, the Professional Education law, amendments in the Energy Law, the Special Surveillance Means law.
“If you serve your own interest in the first place, you can never serve the others. The legally established social structure compels us to forget our ego in a most positive and imperative way! The human being is a member of society in order to serve society, ”the President concluded his address quoting Stoyan Michaylovski’s words and wished the Assembly deputies from the 42nd National Assembly gratifying work.