President Plevneliev: "I Want to Encourage Government
and Parliament to Adopt without
Delay Essential Reforms"


Sofia, January 21 (BTA) - At a news conference on the occasion
of the third anniversary of his inauguration, President Rosen
Plevneliev said that he wants to encourage the government and
Parliament to implement without delay essential reforms.

The President spoke to the press together with Vice President
Margarita Popova.

The President said that Bulgaria has a chance to step ahead
reforms that are important for society. He singled out the
reform in the judicial system, in health care, in the energy
sector, education, the state administration, the water sector,
the pension and security sectors.

The President said that 2013 was "the year of civic energy" and
2014 "the year of extraordinary instability, and added that he
would make sure 2015 becomes "the year of reforms".

Too early to speak of second presidential term

Taking a question about his plans for a re-election bid,
Plevneliev said that anybody making plans for the presidential
elections now, will make a mistake. "It is too early, the
environment is dynamic and one at least needs to wait for the
local elections [this autumn] and then look ahead. Bulgarian
people will punish everybody who spends his time in 2015
calculating insread of working on the national priorities and
issues. People live a difficult life and expect politicians to
get mobilized and work. I believe that politicians must focus on
what needs to be done."

Presidential elections in Bulgaria are not due until 2016.

He said that every time somebody asks him in 2015 about his
plans for a second presidential term, his answer will be "It is
too early."

Taking another question, the President said that he works very
well with the government of Boyko Borissov. He said that these
are relations of partnership in which the two sides are frank
with each other and have an honest debate in order to find the
right decisions. LY/LN



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