Bulgaria's President Indicates Nationalists May Get Govt Mandate

There is still hope to create a new government within the current legislature, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has said.

After a Consultative Council on National Security (KSNS) meeting with political leaders and outgoing cabinet officials, Plevneliev has noted he will give the third mandate to form a government, "after much deliberation, to those who will have the biggest chance to try to create a cabinet."

The first two parties to receive a mandate starting from Friday - the biggest parliamentary forces, GERB and the BSP - have indicated from the outset they will not use it to try to form a government, the head of state has indicated.

Plevneliev has thus hinted at his intention to hand the mandate over to the Patriotic Front (PF), a coalition that backed the outgoing cabinet, after it is returned by GERB and the BSP.

"KSNS was another attempt to seek a common solution after the resignation of Boyko Borisov [as Prime Minister]. The country is in a difficult situation from which we must find the best way out for the people'', Plevneliev has said.

''After this meeting I continue to belive that the current National Assembly can do many meaningful things for the country''.

During Tuesday's consultations, two points of view were represented, in the words of Plevneliev. These were an immediate election, on the one hand, and the ability to compound a new government on the other.  

"Yes, there is agreement in late March, early April for early parliament elections. Nevertheless, the decision will be made by the President-elect Rumen Radev. As he was not with us today, choosing a date for elections was not possible," Plevneliev has added.