The main political parties reached unity on last week’s hottest topics - the banking and political stability at the Consultative Council on National Security hosted by Bulgaria’s President Rossen Plevneliev. The participants at the CCNS reconfirmed the date of the early Parliamentary elections agreed on Friday - the next elections are to be held on October 5, 2014. They reached an agreement in line with the country’s Constitution that the Bulgarian head of state has to dissolve the present 42^nd National Assembly and appoint an interim cabinet which has to prepare the early Parliamentary elections due later in October. The political parties represented at the National Assembly and the new European Parliament also declared that there is no banking crisis in Bulgaria. It happened after the ill-tempered attacks against two of the largest banks at the end of last week and the risk of political and financial instability.

The stand of the Consultative Council on National Securityregarding the two hot topics was presented by Bulgaria’s President Rossen Plevneliev. With regard to the financial situation in Bulgaria the political parties and institutions which attended the CCNS declared their commitment and readiness to take all necessary measures to guarantee the banking stability of the country, President Plevneliev announced.

“The money of the Bulgarian citizens and companies on deposit in the local banks is safe” the head of state ads. “The banks will continue to function normally. Bulgaria is member of the European Union and the Currency Board is unshakable and will remain until Bulgaria joins the Eurozone. EUR 1 is equal to 1.95583 BGN and the exchange rate will remain the same until we change the Bulgarian Lev for Euro. We have enough financial reserves and mechanisms to deal with the attempts of those who want to shake the system and we will support each bank subject to such attacks. The political parties represented at the National Assembly and the new European Parliament place the public interest and the financial stability, as part of the national security, above the political differences and are joining their efforts to reach stability and confidence in the institutions and the national economy. We are taking all necessary measures to support the banking and financial stability in Bulgaria. Some legislative changes aimed at supporting the banking stability are also under way. The international markets have confidence in Bulgaria and it would be good if we trusted it as well. The banking system in Bulgaria is well-regulated, sound and capitalized. We have no grounds to panic. There is no banking crisis in this country - we are now witnessing the so-called confidence crisis and a criminal attack against the financial institutions. We must overcome them and punish the perpetrators of the attacks with the whole severity of the law.”

With regard to the latter, the declaration of the Consultative Council on National Security underlines that.

“The political parties condemn the dissemination of rumors and false statements regarding financial institutions in Bulgaria. We are expecting from the competent authorities to demonstrate determination and show results in short terms. We need to act urgently to find and punish the ones who stay behind this ill-natured act. We call on the Bulgarian citizens to stay calm and refrain from withdrawing their money for no reason. However, those who want to do so can be sure that the banks have the necessary resource.”

With regard to the deepening political crisis after the elections for European Parliament on May 25 the parties which attended the CCNS on Sunday - GERB, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, Bulgaria without Censorship and The Reformist Block declared:

“Early Parliamentary elections are to be held on October 5, 2014. The political parties represented at the National Assembly declare that no other cabinet can be formed within the current Parliament. The resignation of Oresharski’s cabinet will be conformable to the time needed for political consultations and appointment of an interim government. The head of state will issue a decree on August 6, 2014 which is to dissolve the 42^nd National Assembly. Later, President Plevneliev is to appoint the interim cabinet. President Plevneliev will hold consultations with the political parties represented at the National Assembly and the European Parliament before he appoints the caretaker cabinet. The consultation between head of state, Parliament, cabinet and political parties which have to guarantee succession and smooth transition towards the next government will continue.” 

The Bulgarian head of state stressed on the constructive dialogue, the determination and the responsibility demonstrated by the leaders of the political parties represented at the National Assembly and the European Parliament who are determined to guarantee the stability of the state. In Plevneliev’s words, all parties have different views and missions - some of them are leftist, others rightist, but what they all did was of great importance for Bulgaria, President Plevneliev contended.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov