President Iliana Yotova concluded a full round of consultations with parliamentary forces by meeting representatives linked to ?Revival,? as part of the constitutional process ahead of handing over the first mandate to form a government. The meeting at the presidency took place without party leader Kostadin Kostadinov, with four former MPs from the previous parliament:Angel Slavchev, Ivaylo Chorbov, Georgi Hrisimirov, and Svetoslav Todorov,taking part instead.
Opening the discussion, Yotova emphasized the new political reality following the elections and underlined that the role of the opposition remains essential. She pointed to urgent priorities, including the preparation of a new budget and long-delayed reforms in the judicial system. According to her, ?people expect quick work in at least two directions,? particularly on public finances and institutional changes.
Angel Slavchev sharply criticized signals from the incoming majority regarding a potential increase in the debt ceiling, warning that such a move could push the country into a dangerous trajectory. ?We are heading toward the Greek scenario - toward state bankruptcy,? he said, arguing that rising debt and inflation require a different policy approach. He insisted that discussions should begin on restoring the Bulgarian lev, which he described as a key step to stabilizing the economy.
The representatives called on the president to initiate a referendum on returning the national currency, recalling that more than 400,000 citizens had previously supported a vote on postponing eurozone entry. That proposal was rejected despite meeting legal requirements, they noted. Slavchev urged Yotova to take action now, stating, ?It is time to prove our words in action.?
Yotova responded by recalling that she had supported the right for such a referendum proposal to be debated in parliament when it was previously submitted. At the same time, she stressed that political decisions must be carefully timed, noting that ?for a policy to be successful, it must be done in the right place and at the right time.?
During the discussion, additional topics were raised, including sanctions policy and Bulgaria's international commitments. Yotova pointed out that decisions related to sanctions against Russia are taken collectively within the European Union and cannot be changed unilaterally. She also clarified that agreements on support for Ukraine were adopted by the previous regular government, distancing the current presidency from those decisions.
The meeting marked the final consultation of the day, following earlier talks with all parliamentary groups. Throughout the process, Yotova has consistently sought positions on the budget, the financial outlook, and judicial reform. Expectations remain that the first mandate will be handed to ?Progressive Bulgaria? within days, with the possibility of a new government being proposed and voted on by the end of the week.
