DPS Offers 'Unconditional Support' to GERB Minority Cabinet

Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) leader Lyutvi Mestan said Monday his party would throw its unconditional support behind a single-party minority cabinet.

The party's Chairman outlined two worst-case scenarios ahead of Bulgaria: "new elections or an unprincipled anti-European coalition" in which nationalist entities could take part.

He described the second hypothesis as "more alarming", declaring that the DPS would be a staunch opposition to a government that includes "extreme nationalists like the Patriotic Front".

Mestan's announcement followed a four-hour meeting between members of center-right GERB party, which won the snap poll held on October 5, and the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), which came second.

After meeting to discuss prospective cooperation, the two parties failed to reach common ground on most key issues.

GERB leader Boyko Borisov, a likely PM designate, has maintained that a coalition with the DPS "is impossible" and also that its support will not be give GERB enough ground to govern.

On Friday Borisov added support without participation in the cabinet is not an option.

Mestan now reiterated his party is ready to grant 300 days of tolerance to a minority government "with a clear Euro-Atlanticist program".

"Boyko Borisov has a unique chance to evade the second scenario and to be recognized as a unifier of the nation".

The liberals' leader again warned against attempts at isolating the DPS from social and democratic processes.

DPS representatives (not including Mestan) are set to meet a GERB delegation on Tuesday for the next round of consultations.

GERB has not yet received a mandate to set up a government from Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev. Even before informal talks with all parties have taken place, however, a coalition with right-wing Reformist Bloc and (possibly) nationalist Patriotic Front has been pointed as the most likely option.

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