President hands second mandate to WCC-DB
President Rumen Radev today handed the second mandate to the prime minister candidate Nikolai Denkov from WCC-DB. The second political force is, however, in a bind after negotiations with GERB were frozen by the latter's prime minister candidate Mariya Gabriel.
The sudden fall-out was caused by the leaked recording of WCC's internal debate about whether to join GERB in a quasi-coalition (rotation government). Gabriel subsequently repudiated certain controversial statements expressed by WCC at their meeting, adding that she couldn't accept democracy being "built on the basis of lies and disrespect for the basic principles of the republic".
Denkov, having now received the second mandate, now has seven days to try to form a government.
Defense costs rise
The defense ministry plans record spending to acquire military equipment in 2023 with the draft budget foreseeing expenditure of BGN 1.2 billion.
The largest single budget cost is BGN 457 million for the acquisition of basic combat equipment needed to upgrade the capabilities of battalion combat groups. The Ministry of Finance specifies that the project is at an advanced phase, with the signing of an international agreement with the USA looming. The final decision on the implementation of the project will be taken by the National Assembly.
Radev attacks WCC's Vassilev
President Rumen Radev defined as "absolute nonsense" WCC's proposed plan to change the directors of all Bulgarian state security institutions. The idea, expressed in leaked recordings, posits that this can be signed off with the approval of foreign embassies. But Radev said that these services fall under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In the recording, leaked by MP Radostin Vassilev, Assen Vassilev explains that Parliament will confirm new heads of the National Security Service, the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, DAR, NSO, DATO and possibly the military intelligence group. "These are our people, approved by the embassies, they have nothing to do with GERB," he apparently said.
The leaks sparked a big scandal, intense criticism of WCC and stalled negotiations with GERB about forming a rotational coalition government.
President hands second mandate to WCC-DB
President Rumen Radev today handed the second mandate to the prime minister candidate Nikolai Denkov from WCC-DB. The second political force is, however, in a bind after negotiations with GERB were frozen by the latter's prime minister candidate Mariya Gabriel.
