site.btaUPDATED Vazrazhdane Leader Urges for Swift Handing of Government-forming Mandates so Bulgaria Can Move to New Elections

The Bulgarian people have shown those in power that they can no longer mock them, said Vazrazhdane Floor Leader Kostadin Kostadinov in a statement in the parliamentary lobby on Thursday. He stressed that he was pleased his prediction that the government would not resign had not come true, and congratulated citizens for their massive participation in the protests.

“It's been a long time since I was happy about being wrong. Congratulations to the entire Bulgarian people - together, absolutely all of us, diverse, out in the square, regardless of ideology, succeeded in showing those in power that they can no longer mock the Bulgarian people,” Kostadinov said.

He called for the rapid completion of the procedure for handing the first, second and third government-forming mandates to form a government, so that elections can be organized – “whether at the end of winter or at the beginning of spring.” 

"Vazrazhdane's main goal will be to encourage as many people as possible to go out and vote – whether for us or for another political party. If we do not have high voter turnout, the thugs will once again buy votes, once again force some people to vote, and we will end up with a repeat of what we were protesting against," Kostadinov commented. He added that he hopes Bulgaria will start moving in the direction Vazrazhdane has been calling for – a refounding of the state, a new social contract, new moral standards in politics, and a new political elite.

"Corruption and oligarchy have no place in the governance of the country. The state of thugs, oligarchs and corruption has just died. From here on, we must build a new Bulgaria," Kostadinov declared.

“I cannot say which parties will enter the next government, because that depends solely on the Bulgarian citizens,” Kostadinov added.

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced earlier in the day that the government is resigning.