site.btaEx-President Plevneliev, Atlantic Club Head Passy Confirm Invitation to Proposed Contact Group for Cabinet-formation Talks

Atlantic Club President Solomon Passy, who is also a former foreign minister, has confirmed in his Facebook account that he was invited by GERB to join a contact group headed by President Rosen Plevneliev (2012-2017) to aid "the talks on the formation of a Euro-Atlantic majority and cabinet in the new Parliament".

At the October 2 snap parliamentary elections GERB won 25.33% of the votes, becoming the party which will have the highest number of seats in the new 48th National Assembly which is yet to be convened. 

In a Facebook post Passy writes the following: "Having a clear recognition what a huge and challenging duty such a function entails I declare to the public and to the other participants in the process that I would assist them in good faith, selflessly and to the benefit of the people, inasmuch as my abilities and their will allow. Should I fail in this joint undertaking I would assist anyone who will take it up further". 

Plevneliev too came up with a position, released by his office, saying that the contact group will hold meetings "with all pro-European and democratic forces to reach consensus in respect of principles and priorities to underpin a future government which will work for overcoming the crises and stabilizing the State". The position further says that "no visits will be made to party HQs, nor meetings held elsewhere save right before the eyes of the Bulgarian citizens and the media because trust and transparency will be sought after". 

Speaking at a news conference earlier on Tuesday GERB leader Boyko Borissov made a suggestion whereby the heads of the political parties represented in the new Parliament "step back" in order to seek national consensus on the formation of a stable government. Borissov said GERB will opt for the tactics of a contact group and negotiating teams where "people with undisputed Euro-Atlantic reputation will be invited". "Rounds of negotiations will be held with the political forces, where everyone will offer their opinion. For example, regarding the "anti-Putin" topic GERB will invite as moderators of the talks President Rosen Plevneliev (2012-2017) and Atlantic Club President Solomon Passy," Borissov said.