Borisov Juggles Coalition Options in Bulgaria

Boyko Borisov, whose centre-right GERB party came top in the recent general election, is ready to give ministerial posts to other parties in exchange for their support, he said in an interview.

Borisov told the Pressa daily that he was willing to make compromises in exchange for support for his government, but would not accept conditions for posts.

"If the Socialist Party has reasonable ideas on defence, I don't see why I can't give them the opportunity to propose one of their own for Defence Minister," Borisov said, referring to his part's main rival in the country.

The Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria won 32.6 per cent of the votes in snap elections held on Sunday.

The Socialist Party came far behind, almost level with the ethnic-Turkish dominated Movement for Rights and Freedoms. Both parties scored around 15 per cent.

It was a stinging defeat for the Socialists, as their recently elected chairman, Mihail Mikov acknowledged, pledging to lead a constructive opposition and to support all responsible decisions by the next government.

Borisov's deputy, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, told Bulgaria's bTV national channel that Borisov was the obvious choice for the post of Prime Minister.

"However, if the only party that supports Borisov's bid to form a government is the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, then it must be clear that Borisov will resign," he warned.

Tsetska Tsacheva, a former speaker of parliament from GERB, also said the party would seek a broad coalition, and hoped for support from "the party closest to our centre-right policies… the Reformist Bloc".

For its part, Petar Moskov, of the Reformist Bloc, said the coalition would support the majority in parliament if there...