site.btaBSP-United Left Expects Andrey Gurov to Present Competent, Independent Council of Ministers

The parliamentary group of BSP-United Left expects the nominated caretaker prime minister, Andrey Gurov, to present a competent and independent composition of the Council of Ministers in order to fulfil its main function of holding fair elections, BSP-United Left Floor Leader Nataliya Kiselova said on Wednesday.

Earlier on Wednesday, President Iliana Iotova nominated Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) Deputy Governor Andrey Gurov as candidate for caretaker prime minister.

"We all saw that President Iotova held serious consultations. Not all parliamentary groups approached them seriously," Kiselova commented.

Asked whether there is a legal issue concerning the nominated caretaker prime minister, Kiselova said that Gurov is currently on unpaid leave and a ruling from the court in Luxembourg is expected. "As long as he holds the position of BNB deputy governor, he is part of the list from which the president can choose," she added. "Once he is appointed [caretaker prime minister], I expect him to resign [from the post BNB Deputy Governor]," Kiselova said.

Regarding the mention by Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria of Boyko Rashkov as a good option for caretaker interior minister, Kiselova commented that from this point on the responsibility lies with Gurov, who will decide whom to propose as Interior Minister.

"As we are heading towards elections on April 19, I assume that we will have a caretaker government by February 18," she added.

On the change in the leadership of the BSP-United Left parliamentary group, Kiselova said that Dragomir Stoynev had requested to be relieved as chair of the group, and at a general meeting last night a decision was taken to change its leadership.