site.btaPolitical Reactions to Government's Resignation

Rosen Zhelyazkov Cabinet's resignation triggered political reactions on Thursday. Parliamentary groups leaders and MPs commented on the topic and shared their expectations for the country's political future. 

Speaking at a briefing at the GERB headquarters in Sofia, GERB-UDF Floor Leader Boyko Borissov described Zhelyazkov's statement as "brilliant". The briefing was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev, Parliament Chair Raya Nazaryan, as well as ministers and GERB-UDF MPs. Borissov said he insisted on the resignation. The GERB leader stressed that there would be no cabinet reshuffle and no post-election coalitions or patchwork majorities. “After today, we will be a strong opposition; we will work to win the elections,” he added.

Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria MPs Assen Vassilev and Ivaylo Mirchev gave statements to media in Parliament. Vassilev stressed that the resignation is the first step in making Bulgaria a normal European state. "The next step along this path is to conduct fair and free elections rather than elections compromised by vote manipulation as in the previous campaign," he added. Mirchev said: "We will not participate in any configuration in this National Assembly. Bulgaria needs to hold elections, which should be conducted according to clear and fair rules, with the Interior Ministry working adequately."

Vazrazhdane Floor Leader Kostadin Kostadinov 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.” "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,” he said.

MRF – New Beginning Floor Leader Delyan Peevski told reporters in Parliament that another winner emerges from such a situation and he should come forth this very day. He stressed that his party had supported the coalition “so that it could help the people”. Peevski said that in the current situation, “all responsibility lies with the Soros coalition”, speaking about the CC-DB coalition.

There Is Such a People (TISP) Floor Leader Toshko Yordanov said that once there will be no government, the responsibility will no longer lie with any the three parties within it. "The deliberately provoked chaos leads to chaos at all levels of Bulgarian society," Yordanov added. "But there is no problem, we are not clinging to this power. The responsibility lies with all those who caused this chaos," he added. “The fathers of the chaos have names – Assen Vassilev, Ivaylo Mirchev, Radostin Vasilev, Kostadin Kostadinov, [Velichie Floor Leader] Ivelin Mihaylov,” said TISP Deputy Floor Leader Stanislav Balabanov.

MECh Floor Leader Radostin Vasilev said at a briefing that “all leaders of parties claiming to be in opposition must tell the people that the government was not brought down by the opposition - it was brought down by civil society, by the thousands of citizens who took to the streets across Bulgaria. They must be given due credit, because they actually did what we on the inside could not."