Reformists Ready to Support Coalition with GERB 'Under Certain Conditions'

Bulgaria needs a coalition cabinet based on a written agreement and not the minority government that GERB proposes, a Reformist Bloc member said on Friday.

A minority cabinet, what virtually was "the one of [former PM] Plamen Oresharski," will be "unsuccessful" in times of crisis, Former Union of Democratic Forces (SDS) Chairman Martin Dimitrov told the Bulgarian National Television.

Echoing the bloc's officially declared position it issued on Thursday, Dimitrov asserted the coalition would not backtrack on its policy and reform proposals, more specifically on those in areas such as energy or healthcare, in the forthcoming talks with election winner GERB due next week.

Bulgaria "needs a strong cabinet, urgent [budget] update... the situation is desperate, bluntly speaking there is a fire to be put out in the country," he argued.

The former SDS head denied that there were any differences in RB leaders' positions with regard to the widely expected candidacy of GERB's Chairman Boyko Borisov as Prime Minister.

His comments came after days of contradictory statements of the alliance about such prospects.

Dimitrov also stressed GERB was the most similar party to RB in terms of values.

Asked which party should be the third one in the next government if a GERB-RB coalition is formed, he made clear the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) would never be accepted as partners, since "it is they who started the fire".

The right-wing Reformist Bloc, which came fourth in Bulgaria's early elections held Sunday, October 5, has long been described as the most likely party to enter a coalition with conservative GERB.

However, the two parties would fall short of a majority even if they decide to shake hands.

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