site.btaGERB-UDF Says It Will Not Back Progressive Bulgaria Cabinet, Will Serve as Opposition

GERB-UDF will not support the election of the new cabinet and will instead act as an opposition, the party's deputy chair Tomislav Donchev said on Thursday ahead of the expected parliamentary vote on the new government.

Later in the day, President Iliana Iotova is expected to hand the first exploratory mandate for forming a government to the prime minister-designate nominated by Progressive Bulgaria.

Speaking to journalists in Parliament, Donchev said Bulgaria needed a regular political government with a long-term horizon as soon as possible, but stressed that GERB would not support the proposed cabinet.

"The vote itself will indicate what role each political force will play, and we will play the role of the opposition," Donchev said.

He urged against speculation over GERB's previous vote in support of the National Assembly speaker, reiterating the party's position that the largest parliamentary force should hold the post.

GERB-UDF MP Toma Bikov said the party neither sought nor had any agreement with any parliamentary group.

"Our ambition is to follow our own line – neither to attach ourselves to the governing majority nor to seek some form of opposition consolidation," Donchev said, describing GERB-UDF as a centre-right formation distinct from left-wing and liberal opposition parties.

He added that Bulgaria urgently needed a state budget and a final push to adopt the remaining reforms linked to the Recovery and Resilience Plan.

Donchev also argued against tax increases, saying there was significant room to reduce inefficient state spending, while insisting that social payments should not be cut.

Asked whether GERB-UDF would support legislation removing state security protection for Boyko Borissov and Delyan Peevski, Donchev said laws targeting specific individuals were "never good practice".

"When laws are made for specific people, four months later it turns out there is a systemic crisis," Bikov added, drawing a parallel with past constitutional amendments.