After the Reformist Bloc had said that they would not accept a mandate for forming a government in this National Assembly, just like GERB and BSP did, on Tuesday the bloc did just the opposite. But it is clear that without the support of one of the major parliamentary forces, such a government could not survive. In the current situation the fate of the mandate does not depend on the party that has it but on the parties that have already refused it.

The two largest parties in parliament - GERB and BSP returned to the President the mandates for forming a government saying that this Parliament has exhausted its capabilities and there could be no new governing majority within it. The Reformist Bloc, however, accepted the mandate from the President, saying that it was possible for a "reformist majority" to emerge. For a majority in parliament the votes of a total of 121 MPs are needed. But even if all the 84 votes from the biggest party in parliament, GERB, go to the reformers, who have 22 seats, this would not be enough. This means that the reformers should have talks with other parliamentary forces, and especially with the Patriotic Front. However, the PF believe that the third mandate was not given to them under external pressure, and they would hardly support a cabinet of the reformers. Especially if they refused to accept the Patriotic Front’s conditions for a harder policy related to protection of state borders, a crackdown on petty crime, and a rise of the minimum pension. It is worth pointing out that support for their call for a higher minimum pension had already been refused by GERB and the reformers would mostly count on GERB for forming a government.

A government without ruling majority of 121 votes in parliament is also possible. The government of Boyko Borissov worked this way, relying on varying support from parties outside the coalition, but it resigned saying that the possibility had been exhausted. Why would GERB try to use the same formula now but with a mandate managed by a much smaller political force? Moreover, there is disagreement among reformers too, as DSB is strongly opposed.

At this stage GERB leader and outgoing Prime Minister Boyko Borissov refuses to make a statement, saying the issue was yet to be discussed at the talks with the Reformist Bloc. BSP said that an attempt to form a cabinet with a mandate held by the reformers was a waste of time. Even President Rosen Plevneliev hinted that the task would be very difficult; pointing out that trying was worthwhile, as sometimes one percent of chance turned into 100% reality.

GERB and BSP returned mandates to form a government just minutes after the President made them an offer, while the Reformist Bloc would end consultations on forming a cabinet on Monday. Some observers say that there was no hurry in order for a caretaker government appointed by President Plevneliev to be avoided and in order for responsibility to be left to his successor – newly elected head of state Rumen Radev.

English: Alexander Markov