August 20 (BTA) - President Rumen Radev on Friday handed an exploratory mandate for forming a government to Daniel Mitov, who had been designated for Prime Minister by the second largest parliamentary group GERB-UDF in the 46th National Assembly. Mitov returned the mandate immediately, as the parliamentary group had promised to do.

"Unfortunately, we don't see a chance for the second mandate to be successfully completed," Mitov told the head of State.

Earlier on Friday, GERB-UDF presented their draft cabinet at a news conference.

Mitov told the news conference that under the current political situation things cannot go like this and that Bulgaria needs a stable government.

The country is facing crises which have to be managed, and they can be managed only through a government, supported by a clearly formulated and formatted parliamentary majority, said Mitov.

Daniel Mitov said that GERB would unveil the names of ministers in a possible GERB cabinet so that people are able to make comparisons and know the potential of the coalition.

"This is a draft cabinet which we won't present to the President and the National Assembly, as we are in a situation which can not be resolved through this second mandate," said Mitov. "The deep division which has been created in Bulgarian society between the institutions and political parties has led to this that we cannot rely on a constructive dialogue and negotiations on policies and a coalition agreement," said Mitov. "Because of this we should not delay the procedure and should act responsibly before the voters. We'll give the President a chance to make a swift decision for handing the third government forming mandate,"said Mitov.

The largest parliamentary group, There Is Such a People (TISP), unsuccessfully completed their mandate so that the President will have to offer a third and last mandate to a smaller parliamentary group of his choice.

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Members of the parliamentary groups commented on the likelihhood of a cabinet formed on the third mandate.

GERB floor leader Desislava Atanasova: Developments in the last few weeks could be compared to a circus. The non-establishment parties are shirking the responsibility to run the country. Many are opting to be in opposition but no one wants to govern.

TISP floor leader Toshko Yordanov: We don't care what GERB say, they shouldn't be in Parliament.

Georgi Gyokov, BSP for Bulgaria: Forming a cabinet on the third mandate is a matter of negotiations. As time is running out, the chances of a cabinet are getting slim. If the Left is offered the third mandate, it will negotiate with all the parliamentary forces except GERB and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF).

Democratic Bulgaria floor leader Hristo Ivanov: An attempt could be made to find a working formula, such as an agreement among the parties except GERB and the MRF, so as to ensure a government based on clear mechanisms for a few months. Same-day presidential and parliamentary elections would not be a good option because the logic behind the two is quite different. Parliament should debate a revision of the State Budget Act and should start considering a date for the presidential elections.

Hamid Hamid, MRF: The MPs know now that it is not easy to form a government. It is possible to have a cabinet voted in office without GERB's and the MRF's votes.

Tatyana Doncheva, Rise Up BG! Here We Come!: TISP hold the key to the situation - a government cannot be formed if they do not want to participate. The MRF and TISP have kept passing the buck between them recently, which points to an as yet undisclosed relationship between the two.
ZH/PP,DD//