GERB to Ignore Political Consultations after MPs Defy President Veto

GERB leader Boyko Borisov (front) believes it is not the right time for important legislative decisions. Photo by BGNES

Bulgarian opposition leader Boyko Borisov announced his party would pull out of political consultations scheduled for next week.

He cited GERB lawmakers' decision to debate on Thursday the veto on an Interior Ministry bill imposed by President Rosen Plevneliev as a motive for his center-right GERB party to withdraw from upcoming talks.

Consultations next week are aimed at easing political tensions that aroused after the socialist-liberal cabinet's legitimacy was put into question by junior coalition partners and early elections were called.

The main ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) proposed Thursday morning, when cabinet reshuffles were planned to be on the agenda in Parliament, promptly demanded that lawmakers kick off work with debates on the veto.

Center-right GERB MPs opposed the move as they believe any discussions on the issue thoroughly undermined the idea of a gradual transition to early elections.

Borisov, who started his career in power after assuming the office of Interior Ministry Chief Secretary (the Ministry's top-ranking official), believes lawmakers are not entitled to adopt important decisions in the eve of an early vote this autumn.

Socialists, however, were adamant in their decision to discuss the President's motion and said they would invite Interior Minister Tsvetlin Yovchev to take part in the session.

Plevneliev explained his veto with lack of arguments on the Interior Ministry's funding projected for this year and.

The bill, which was adopted on two Parliament readings, would also see the competence to appoint the Ministry's Chief Secretary taken from the President and assigned to the Council of Ministers.

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