Tomislav Donchev

Political Consultations with parties represented in the new National Assembly with the President Rumen Radev continued throughout the day.

Before opening the first meeting Radev addressed the parties, saying:

"I call on you and all parliamentary groups to bear responsibility - without shaking it off, but without going beyond your commission."

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov - whose government's resignation was confirmed in a vote by parliament on Friday after his GERB party lost the elections on 4 April - is refusing to present the country's recovery plan before lawmakers in parliament although he has been called to appear before them on Wednesday. 

President Rumen Radev is holding consultations on Monday with representatives of the six parliamentary groups in the 45th National Assembly ahead of handing the first exploratory government-forming mandate.

Resigned PM Boyko Borisov has appeared for the first time in months in front of the media. He avoided the journalists for a long time and even after the work of the 45th National Assembly began.

His press conference was presented to the media quickly - with a message at 8.33 to be held at 9.30 in the Sunday morning.

The Commission adopted on Wednesday the Funding strategy that will ensure all necessary elements are already in place as borrowing under the temporary pandemic recovery instrument NextGenerationEU to be financed on the most advantageous terms.

GERB party will put forward a government despite the small chances that it will be supported, announced at a briefing at the party's headquarters, Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev shortly before 1 p.m. today.

He warned that attempts to bypass GERB in parliament would be a gross political mistake.

The Russian embassy in Sofia defended the Bulgarian government over criticism from US over corruption and lack of media freedom, as if the EU and NATO country was Russia's backyard.

Bulgarian political parties are showing an uncharacteristic interest in green policies ahead of elections on April 4, not least because the country is one of the largest per capita beneficiaries of EU funds and is now required to invest in climate and environmental issues.

At a meeting with the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev said that in four years Bulgaria's GDP grew by one-fourth, the average wage increased by 50 per cent, and the minimum pension doubled.

At the last plenary session, Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev will inform parliament of Bulgaria's preparedness to present to the EC the final version of the national recovery and sustainability plan. The National Assembly goes on recess as of the next week as election campaign starts at full steam.