The head of state handed an exploratory mandate for forming a government to GERB - SDS

In accordance with the constitutional procedure, the head of state Rumen Radev handed the first exploratory mandate for the formation of a government within the framework of the 49th National Assembly to Maria Gabriel, the candidate for Prime Minister, nominated by the largest parliamentary group - that of GERB-SDS.

The President pointed out that there are many obstacles before the Prime Minister candidate, but he expects, within the 7-day period specified by the basic law, that she will present the composition and structure of the Council of Ministers.

Maria Gabriel stated that she will do everything possible, within the framework of the exploratory mandate, for Bulgaria to have a stable and working regular government. "That's why my proposal will be for an expert government, united around clear priorities with one goal - the well-being of Bulgarians and the authority of Bulgaria," she added.

"I expect within a week, as per the constitution, that you will present the structure and composition of the Council of Ministers," said President Rumen Radev upon handing over the mandate.

"I want to assure you that I will do everything possible within the framework of this mandate for Bulgaria to have a stable, working government," said Gabriel. "Therefore, my goal is an expert government with clear priorities that will lead to the well-being of Bulgaria," she added after receiving the mandate.

The nominee for Prime Minister expressed confidence that she will work for the authority of Bulgaria in front of the world and at the basis of all this will be the commitment to the people and the homeland.

"Therefore, I sincerely believe that the support I will seek will send a message of ambition, that we are able to unite and send out a working government. That we will work for the authority of Bulgaria in Europe and the world, and we will unfold the potential of the country and its talents And, of course, at the heart of all this will be the commitment to the people and to the homeland," said the European Commissioner.

"You realize that many obstacles await you on this path, I wish you success," answered Rumen Radev.

Maria Gabriel thanked the president that both he and the presidential institution are a "guarantee for compliance with the supreme law of Bulgaria, the Constitution". As for Vice President Iliyana Yotova, she was a member of the European Parliament before taking office, she said that in recent days she has been thinking about her path, because "when you are seriously involved in the internal politics of Bulgaria, you know how important it is to observe all the procedures in the European institutions ".

The handing over of the first mandate comes a month and a half after the parliamentary elections on April 2 and after the head of state gave some more time to the parties to hold consultations among themselves.

Just a few hours before the ceremony for receiving the mandate, the candidate for prime minister from GERB held, together with the party leader Boyko Borisov, the second meeting in a row to form a government - with the leaderships of BSP, DPS and ITN. None of the three formations publicly and categorically declared participation in such a cabinet, but there was approval for its expert formula and Maria Gabriel's priorities, Dir.bg reported.

The DPS expressed the highest degree of readiness, emphasizing that they have prepared experts in all fields. The BSP set as a "red line" the possible shipment of weapons to Ukraine and insisted that the deficit be at least around 4-4.5% so that social payments are not cut. On the other hand, ITN referred specifically to the BSP's vision of more spending and expressed fears that they would not be able to give unconditional support to a finance minister "with broad fingers" and a government that will spend excessively.

All have left the door open for a share in power, and whether this will be finally agreed remains to be seen in the next seven days. This is the constitutional term during which those who received the mandate, in this case GERB-SDS and Maria Gabriel, must conduct the final political shuttles and specify the composition of the cabinet, in order to return the folder with the completed mandate and the list of ministers to the president next week.

During this time, the BSP will convene its plenum as early as tomorrow to organize an internal party poll on whether to join an expert cabinet with Prime Minister Maria Gabriel. Again, on Tuesday, the PP and DB planned to ask their party bodies whether to join such a government, but the GERB leader declared the delay of their decision an insult. Thus, a second meeting was not held with them in the parliament on Monday. No talks took place with "Vazrazhdane", whose priorities and those of GERB-SDS have no points of contact.