Sofia, December 13 (BTA) - The new Bulgarian Government took the oath in office affter a vote in Parliament Monday. It was an extraordinary plenary sitting where the legislature approved the nomination of Kiril Petkov, designated for prime minister by the Continue the Change Parliamentary Group, as well as the composition and members of the new Government. A total of 238 MPs from the 240-seat Parliament voted on all three items on the agenda. The votes in favour were 134, while 104 MPs were against and nobody abstained.

The new Cabinet has five deputy Prime Ministers, including two from Continue the Change (CC) and one from each of the remaining three coalition partners: Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), There Is Such a People (TISP) and Democratic Bulgaria (DB).

The lineup is as follows:

Prime Minister - Kiril Petkov (CC)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance - Assen Vassilev (CC)

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Government Efficiency - Kalina Konstantinova (CC)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Industry - Kornelia Ninova (BSP)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development and Public Works - Grozdan Karadjov (TISP)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment and Water - Borislav Sandov (DB)

Interior Minister - Boyko Rashkov (CC)

Minister of Foreign Affairs - Teodora Genchovska (TISP)

Defence Minister - Stefan Yanev (CC)

Labour and Social Policy Minister - Georgi Gyokov (BSP)

Justice Minister - Nadejda Yordanova (DB)

Education and Science Minister - Nikolay Denkov (CC)

Health Minister - Assena Serbezova (CC)

Culture Minister - Atanas Atanassov (CC)

Agriculture Minister - Ivan Ivanov (BSP)

Transport and Communications Minister - Nikolay Sabev (CC)

Minister of Innovation and Growth - Daniel Lorer (CC)

Minister of eGovernment - Bozhidar Bozhanov (DB)

Energy Minister - Alexander Nikolov (TISP)

Minister of Tourism - Hristo Prodanov (BSP)

Minister of Sport - Radostin Vassilev (TISP).

Attending the sitting were President Rumen Radev, members of the caretaker Government, Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev, representatives of different religious communities in Bulgaria, diplomats and trade union representatives.

On Saturday, the head of State handed the exploratory mandate for the formation of a government to Continue the Change, the biggest political force in the new Bulgarian Parliament. They received the mandate a day after a government coalition agreement was signed with TISP, BSP and DB. Later on Saturday, Petkov presented the proposed structure of the new government.

Radev is scheduled to receive the members of the caretaker Cabinet he appointed later on Monday, while the ceremony for handing over the Executive to the newly elected government is scheduled to take place in the afternoon at the Council of Ministers' building.

Comments and remarks

Addressing the National Assembly, Kiril Petkov said that "today is an important day for continuing the change, the way of thinking and governance. He recalled the low vaccination rate in Bulgaria, adding that his Government will tackle this issue, adding that if elected Prime Minister, he will require everyone at the Council of Ministers to have a green certificate.

Petkov said that the first task is for everyone to realize that they must work together if they want a better future for Bulgaria, including with the opposition if changes to the Judiciary are concerned. He also said that zero tolerance for corruption will be his government's motto. Addressing his future ministers, Petkov said "I will be first among equals".

Upon entering Parliament, President Radev said the new Cabinet is expected with hope and will be evaluated based on its work.

Caretaker Prime Minister Stefan Yanev said before the start of the sitting that he is leaving the State in a condition that allows for true reforms.

The debate in the plenary chamber opened with GERB Floor Leader Desislava Atanasova reading a declaration in which she strongly criticizing the two caretaker cabinets, appointed by President Radev, for failing in its three main tasks - tackling the COVID-19 crisis, conducting the elections and drafting the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. She also criticized the President for failing to understand the essence and role of the caretaker government. The two cabinets he appointed created "unprecedented chaos", she said.

BSP for Bulgaria Floor Leader Kornelia Ninova said that the Socialists see their participation in this cabinet as a guarantee for social justice in Bulgaria and care for the people. She said that Bulgarian children and young families will finally be protected and thanked the other coalition partners for guaranteeing free kindergartens and daycare. Ninova said that children under 14 will be entitled to free medicines, while young parents who stayed home to care for their children during the pandemic will be compensated with a wage. There will be a sensible and guaranteed minimum wage increase. "Finally, after all these battles, we're happy to say that no pensioner will be living below the poverty line," she said. Ninova also noted that 1 per cent of GDP will be allocated for culture and 5 per cent for education.

TISP Co-floor Leader Viktoria Vassileva said her party will support the proposed cabinet and they will be consistent and loyal coalition partners. Their support will be based on clear principles and honesty, she said.  

Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) leader Mustafa Karadayi said in Parliament that his party also wants change and reforms. The MRF will support the decisions that benefit the wellbeing of Bulgarian citizens and ending corruption. It. however, will not support the proposed cabinet because the MRF has not been part of its negotiations, he said. The MRF will be constructive opposition, Karadayi added.

MP Hristo Petrov (CC), who is a famous rapper, told Parliament in an emotional speech that after he was invited by Petkov to join the political project, he got a message from powerful people that if he did so, he would risk losing what's dearest to him. He said that he is aware that many of the people present in Parliament are there precisely because they got the same message. Petkov said that he has made his choice and that is to be part of Continue the Change.

Vazrazhdane [Revival] leader Kostadin Kostadinov criticized the policies in the coalition agreement, which are the reason his party cannot support the future cabinet. Kostadinov expressed himself against the green certificate requirement for the Council of Ministers, which Petkov announced earlier. He also criticized the fact that there is no designated ministry for the Bulgarians abroad.

Hristo Ivanov of DB said that the proposed cabinet is the best chance for Bulgaria to have an effective Parliament-elected government, which has not happened in months. Given its composition, the proposed cabinet will not be able to concentrate power in its hands, which is an opportunity for Bulgaria. The new government will be a centrist one, he said. DB would like to contribute to policies concerning climate change and having a deputy prime minister responsible for this is good news. Another policy DB could contribute to is the introduction of e-government, which would help get Bulgarian administration to the 21st century. Judicial reform is another area they can contribute to, because the time has come for it. This is not just about the rule of law, he said, addressing Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev, urging him to resign. MY/LN