site.btaUPDATED President Iotova Will Hand Mandate to Form a Government on May 7

President Iliana Iotova said Tuesday she will hand over the first exploratory mandate to form a government at 5:00 p.m. on May 7, speaking to reporters after consultations with parliamentary group representatives.

“I have the assurance of Progressive Bulgaria that they will come with a fulfilled mandate”, Iotova said.

Referring to the talks held with the parliamentary groups, she said that the key priorities are shared. “The consensus was that we should start with a half-year budget that would break the inflationary spiral and help the most vulnerable and socially disadvantaged,” she said, adding that the parliamentary groups had expressed their willingness and confidence that this would not come at the cost of tax increases and that all social payments would be maintained.

“We must also make every effort to ensure Bulgaria receives payments under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, because this will be the strongest guarantee that the budget will work and be secure,” she said.

According to Iotova, the second priority is judicial reform. She said the parliamentary groups’ approaches and proposals differ widely, but there is broad agreement that the crucial first step must be taken: replacing the Supreme Judicial Council and electing new members under clear, transparent and firm criteria.

She thanked all parliamentary groups, their leaders and representatives for taking part in the consultations, noting that all had come with prepared legislative programmes.

On Tuesday, Iotova held consultations with representatives of the parliamentary groups in the 52nd National Assembly ahead of handing over the first exploratory mandate to form a government. Representatives of the Progressive Bulgaria coalition, GERB-UDF, Movement for Rights and Freedoms - MRF, Democratic Bulgaria, Continue the Change and Vazrazhdane took part.