1st attempt to form new gov't in Bulgaria fails

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - The first attempt to form a new government following the April 2 elections in Bulgaria failed, local media reported on Monday.

GERB-UDF's Prime Minister-designate Mariya Gabriel returned the mandate to President Rumen Radev, the state-run BTA news agency said.

Gabriel said she is returning the folder with the exploratory mandate empty, because, she added, the GERB-UDF bloc and she will not allow names of people that have been included through "behind-the-scenes deals," -- instead of "open and clear conversations based on principles and responsibilities" -- to be added to it, according to the report.

Radev, for his part, said that when the first mandate fails, the next ones would be even more difficult, and may bring further compromises and further communication before the public.

He repeated his call to the parties in the parliament not to delay the adoption of this year's budget and important bills.

"Because they are expected by the Bulgarian citizens and are of crucial importance for the state,” Radev said.

Last week, the CC-DB (Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria) coalition, Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Vazrazhdane (Revival), and There Is Such a People parties announced that they would not support a GERB government on the first mandate.

Only the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, supported predominantly by the country’s Turkish minority, expressed readiness to support Gabriel's draft Cabinet list.