„There are many urgent tasks before this parliament, but you agree that the most important one is the formation of a regular government that will take responsibility for the governance of the country. The BSP is a party with long traditions and experience in both parliamentarism and in governing the country, which can be particularly useful in this complex situation in which society and the Bulgarian parliament find themselves. For this reason, it is important how your party sees the dialogue in the National Assembly between the parties, the negotiations, the contacts between the parties to form a government within this Parliament. Would you support the first term at all and under what conditions, if so? If we consider, of course without predicting, that it is unsuccessful, to the second – would you engage and on what terms again with your former coalition partners in a future government of the country.
Along with these important issues, the other urgent tasks for the future Parliament are of particular importance, some of them are inherited from the former Parliament – the adoption of the Laws related to the Recovery and Sustainability Plan, the completion of the mandates of a number of constitutionally established bodies that are either incomplete or beyond their mandate. And in this regard, it is extremely important, against the background of all these tasks, how you see the priorities in the work of the National Assembly and the main actions to curb the social and economic crisis.“
Saying these words, President Rumen Radev addressed BSP leader Korneliya Ninova during consultations. The socialist leader replied:
„For us, there are three important tasks in this Parliament – firstly, to adopt a budget that has a social orientation and to guarantee people an increase in income and the economy stability. Second, the adoption of the laws related to the Recovery and Sustainability Plan (RSP) and third, successful talks to form a regular government and work the parliament further.“
Ninova added: „We think that, unfortunately, the time you gave us for talks between the parliamentary parties is unfortunately lost. There has been no result from negotiations, if any, to form a government. That is why it is extremely important for us, while the talks are going on, to pass the budget, keeping to the social part, which is an increase in the minimum wage to BGN 850, the adoption of the concept of energy poverty and support for those families that are energy poor, the introduction of a ceiling on energy prices to help both the economy and households, maternity pay to follow the increase in the minimum wage and, especially, a strong social package to support young people and children. Since we will not have a budget tabled for 2023 by the caretaker cabinet, we intend to make these proposals between the first and second readings of the tabled Bill to extend the current budget. This is a possible procedure despite the contrary claim of some colleagues, because we have already done it and in this regard we have invited all parliamentary groups to talks to agree on these parameters to ensure the stability of the economy and people’s peace of mind during this winter period.“
„If „We Continue the Change” invites us to talks, we will participate. I think we have achieved good ideas with them. We are satisfied with what has been done in the social sphere.. We have started steps in the fight against corruption, which we could not complete. We have had differences in recent days and that is normal. Politically, if we are invited, we will participate in talks,„, Ninova said.
„I do not accept that there will be no salaries and that the caretaker government is condemning us to darkness. All social policies are maintained. There is also listening. There was a government press conference. There will be supplements to all pensions. It has also started talks with the unions about the minimum wage. There will be real wage increases. Most importantly, the government has caught some very high inflation rates. This was its priority task. Work in this direction is bearing fruit. This is a good sign. There will be other solutions that will help people for the coming season. This attitude of the caretaker government to dialogue has never been ignored. Let us use it and look for the best solutions. One senses a desire for electoral bidding. Will this be contained? I can guarantee you that the caretaker government will take action on social policy. I think you can support the caretaker government, which will soon bring in a law to regulate prices. This will be a good solution for the benefit of all Bulgarian citizens. Parliament and the Government will do their utmost to ensure that the laws and the changes are in favour of the people. I think that the calm tone should be maintained here and there will be solutions. People should feel it, but financial stability should also be maintained. Real revenue has to come from somewhere,„, Radev noted.
„You say you are proposing an extension of the current budget. It is no longer relevant. We made good policy through it, but inflation has reset that increase. People need increased incomes. As for the wood. The regular government did something good. Actually, the state forestry companies acquire the wood and sell it at low prices. We fear that companies are doing it now and inflating prices. We are bringing in a law to counter speculation. There is speculation in the Bulgarian economy. We have done it before, but today the situation is different. Give us a budget because we are not allowed to do it. Then you will have the right to demand and monitor us. We have been in a similar situation. We have managed. There were populist outbursts. Fortunately, we coped and passed a good budget. We need a budget law that only the government can bring forward. It is evident that in Europe and around the world, many governments have taken actions that were previously considered to be a restriction on the freedom of the market. Some of our proposals have clearly been undermined. This is for the sake of the idea of making peoples feel really good,„, Ninova replied.
