Reformist Bloc MPs Wait for their Leaders' Cue on Whether to Go into Opposition

Sofia, December 11 (BTA) - Approached by journalists in Parliament on Thursday, Reformist Bloc MPs said they expect their leaders to give them a cue on whether to go into opposition.

The five-party right-wing coalition has 23 MPs in the 240-seat legislature and seven ministers in the 20-member Cabinet. In the 43rd National Assembly, the Bloc is part of the GERB-dominated government majority.

National Assembly Deputy Chairman Ivan Ivanov MP of the Reformist Bloc does not rule out the possibility of other MPs following the example of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria leader Radan Kanev and going into opposition.

As to the government ministers of the Reformist Bloc, in his opinion, each one of them must reaffirm that they can honour their reformist commitments, and at the same time this is a matter of personal choice.

The Bloc is represented in the Cabinet by Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva, Economy Minister Bozhidar Loukarski, Health Minister Peter Moskov, Education Minister Todor Tanev, Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov, Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev, and Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov, who resigned on Wednesday over a controversial constitutional amendment about the distribution of political and professional nominees in the prosecutors' college of the Supreme Judicial Council.

"We are in government to carry out genuine rather than simulated reforms," Ivanov stressed.

The thought to joint Kanev in opposition has crossed his mind, too, but since he has been elected Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly for the parliamentary group, it was up to the group to decide whether he will stay in office.

Ivanov hopes that the parties in the Bloc will sort out their positions by Friday or Saturday and that early next week the coalition will hold a joint meeting to decide the future conduct of its MPs.

Martin Dimitrov MP of the Reformist Bloc is convinced of the need of a "very serious discussion at the parliamentary group." He admitted that, as far as he is concerned, he has long felt as an opposition MP.

"The Right is committing seppuku because Radan Kanev is the most prominent figure in the parliamentary group," Roumen Hristov MP of the Reformist Bloc commented to journalists.

His fellow MP Grozdan Karadjov, who announced his resignation as chairman of the National Assembly Transport Committee and the withdrawal of his support for the Government, commented that another 13 of his colleagues have stated this position, moreover before the Justice Minister's resignation.

The Bulgaria for the Citizens Movement (BCM), which is part of the Reformist Bloc, Thursday issued a press release denying an announcement e-mailed by the party earlier in the day according to which the BCM MPs are withdrawing their support for the majority and will ask their government ministers to resign. BCM MP Nastimir Ananiev explained that the party's e-mail account had been hacked and described the false message as "sheer provocation and an attempt to destabilize the State." Ananiev added that the stock exchange index of Bulgarian securities fell, reacting to the news, "which means that this provocation is used for disinformation purposes."

Who Will Succeed Hristo Ivanov

The Reformist Bloc has not yet considered particular names for a successor to Hristo Ivanov as justice minister.

"Both GERB and the Reformist Bloc will nominate their candidates for justice minister, and the Prime Minister will make his choice," said GERB Deputy Floor Leader Tsveta Karayancheva. This opinion was also expressed on Wednesday by Deputy Prime Minister for Coalition Policy Roumyana Buchvarova after meeting with the Reformist Bloc Parliamentary Group.

Deputy Prime Minister and Labour and Social Policy Minister Ivailo Kalfin of ABV commented to journalists that the ruling coalition depends on the conduct of the Reformist Bloc because they are its essential constituent.