Start of new Parliamentary session outlines directions of forthcoming Presidential campaign

 At the beginning of each new Parliamentary session the political parties usually declare what targets they will pursue until the next session. This year the autumn session of Bulgaria's National Assembly precedes the campaign of the forthcoming Presidential elections and the Bulgarian political forces represented at the Parliament rather outlined the policy line they are about to follow in the presidential competition, instead of any legislative activities.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party made it clear that it was going to confront during the Presidential campaign the ruling GERB party mainly in the foreign policy field, which is an important field within the prerogatives of the Bulgarian head of state. The socialists accused GERB of obedient behavior towards the EU and Turkey. The main cause of BSP in their policy with the European Union will regard the abolishment of the sanctions against Russia. Moreover, Bulgaria should “stop acting as Ankara's courier in its relations with Brussels regarding the migrant crisis”, representatives of BSP said.

However, the Bulgarian Socialist Party did not receive support for its criticism towards the cabinet's policy with Turkey during the Parliamentary debates. BSP demanded from Premier Borissov to explain that policy in Parliament, but the majority of the MPs rejected that proposal. GERB party pointed out that the main priority of Bulgaria would regard the security along its state borders. In that respect GERB received the support of its coalition partners-the Patriotic Front, the ruling wings of the Reformist Bloc and the Bulgarian Democratic Center.

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms brought a new element in the political debate. According to MRF (Movement for Rights and Freedoms), the migrant problem is of big importance, but the main task of the Bulgarian authorities is to stop the migration flow of Bulgarian citizens who leave this country for economic reasons. MRF said that the political configuration in this country had to change, which would guarantee stability. That is why, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms demanded early Parliamentary elections, which in their view must be held after the coming Presidential elections. The Bulgarian Socialist Party did not request early Parliamentary elections during today’s sitting of the Parliament. However, some representatives of the socialist party said after the sitting that they also supported the idea about early elections. However, it is still difficult to tell whether the main political theses of BSP and MRF will become similar during the Presidential campaign. Currently, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms refuses to voice its support towards a given Presidential nominee. However, it would follow carefully the platforms of the nominees and will give its support to the one who is closest to the Bulgarian national interest.

GERB party does not agree with the criticism of the socialist party and will maintain the same policy line in its relations with the European Union and Turkey. Moreover, in a phone conversation Premier Boyko Borissov was encouraged by the President of the European Council Donald Tusk to continue with his active diplomacy shown during his meetings in Turkey and Germany. On the day of the official opening of the new Parliamentary session, Premier Borissov announced his decision to become the new national coordinator of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which was scheduled for the first half of 2018. Previously Deputy Premier Meglena Kuneva was in that position. Premier Boyko Borissov repeated GERB's decision to announce its Presidential nominees in the beginning of October and voiced readiness to complete his second mandate as Prime Minister of Bulgaria. Premier Borissov also added that he would run for President in the next Presidential campaign.

 

English version: Kostadin Atanasov 

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