Bulgarian president starts govt talks on Thursday

Bulgarian President, Rosen Plevneliev, is launching consultations on forming the new government with parliamentary represented parties as early as Thursday, May 23, local media reported. Plevneliev stressed that after the conclusion of the consultations, he would not delay even by a minute the handing of the mandate to form a new government. Bulgaria has been at an impasse since an inconclusive May 12 election, making it difficult to address unemployment close to an eight-year high and incomes of less than half the EU average and to avoid protests against low living standards. Former prime minister Boiko Borisov’s centre-right GERB, which resigned during protests in February, is the largest party in a new parliament but cannot secure backing to control a majority. Borisov said GERB would not support its rivals in the confidence vote they need to win to form a government. But the Socialists and MRF are widely expected to be able to form a government of technocrats with the backing or abstentions of individual lawmakers from GERB or nationalist party Attack.