site.btaGERB Leader: Caretaker Cabinet Is Entirely President Iotova's Responsibility from This Point On

Speaking at GERB’s headquarters on Thursday, party leader Boyko Borissov said that the newly appointed caretaker government was the responsibility of President Iliana Iotova from that point on. “From this point on, the government is entirely Ms. Iotova’s responsibility and there is no backing out,” he noted. Borissov met with former prime minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and former GERB ministers, with the discussion broadcast live on his Facebook page.

The caretaker government must ensure fair elections, he added. Commenting on Deputy Prime Minister for Fair Elections Stoil Tzitzelkov, Borissov described the appointment as “a major misstep on the part of caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov and President Iotova.“ “If it is true that he has been banned by the EU from serving as an election observer in other countries for five years, that is a very serious sanction,” Borissov said. “With someone like that in the role, no one will view the elections as fair. I do not even know what they were thinking when they selected him,” the GERB leader added.

Regarding the appointment of Rumiana Bachvarova as Chef de Cabinet to the caretaker prime minister, Borissov said it was her personal decision and wished her success.

GERB can take responsibility for Atanas Zapryanov, who serves as Defence Minister in this Cabinet. “It was officially requested, and we have officially agreed,” Borissov said.

“I did not take part in any way in assembling this government,” Borissov added.