Reformist Bloc Discusses Priorities to Be Included in Annex to Coalition Agreement with GERB

Sofia, January 12 (BTA) - On Tuesday, the Executive Council of the Reformist Bloc discussed a statement detailing the key priorities to speed and expand reforms which will provide the basis for negotiations with GERB on an annex to the coalition agreement, Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) deputy leader Roumen Hristov told a news briefing. The Bloc has nominated a group to negotiate with GERB.

These include the judicial reform, the anti-corruption law, a resolution in connection with the outcome of the referendum on electronic voting and changes to the Election Code ahead of the upcoming presidential elections.

Hristov said there had been no conflict but the Bloc did not receive support for more drastic changes to the Constitution. "This is all we could do with 23 MPs," said the UDF deputy leader.

Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB), which withdrew their support for the government after Parliament failed to vote through certain changes to the Constitution, did not send representatives to the meeting. Hristov voiced a hope that DSB will nominate a representative on the negotiating team at a meeting of the Bloc's parliamentary group on Tuesday evening. The statement of priorities has been signed by 14 MPs and all ministers in the government nominated by the Bloc. Hristov said that DSB and the Bloc's Civil Council had not signed the declaration.

Of a possible new right-wing bloc around DSB, Hristov said that the Reformist Bloc will consider the idea in greater detail at the meeting, as the other parties had not been informed. "We hope that we'll have an honest conversation with our colleagues from DSB. The other parties in the Bloc are unanimous that we are a single organization, no one has been expelled and we can continue ahead," said Hristov. "Everyone has the right to develop a private project but we don't want anyone to leave the Bloc."