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BSP stops negotiations for a new cabinet, does not want Kiril Petkov as PM over Russian diplomats scandal

Kornelia Ninova
Photo: BGNES

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) has stopped negotiations with We Continue the Change for a new cabinet because of Prime Minister Kirill Petkov's decision to expel 70 Russian diplomats. 
"This is an unprecedented rupture of diplomatic relations with Russia," BSP leader Kornelia Ninova said after a meeting of the party's executive bureau. She said the decision was taken unilaterally and was not discussed by the Council of Ministers. However, outgoing Sports Minister Radostin Vassilev claimed differently - the cabinet had discussed the case with the Russian diplomats in a closed session and the ministers from the BSP quota had reacted negatively. 

Ninova insisted that the parliament should hear the chairman of the State Agency for National Security  in a closed session on the issue of the Russian diplomats, and that the president should convene the Consultative Council on National Security. 

The BSP would only return to the talks for a new government if We Continue the Change abandoned their plan to nominate Kiril Petkov as prime minister, Kornelia Ninova stated. 

The decision of the BSP to quit the negotiations on the formation of a new government will be discussed at a meeting of the parliamentary group We Continue the Change, said its chairman Andrey Gurov. He called on the political left to reconsider their reaction and added that We Continue the Change will do everything possible to form a government with the first exploratory mandate.

"It is better to talk about priorities related to judicial reform, accession of Bulgaria to the Schengen area, policies for joining the eurozone," said Christo Ivanov, one of the leaders of Democratic Bulgaria and asked who is ready to work for a real energy independence of our country. According to him, the ruling coalition must continue to exist, otherwise the country would inevitably plunge into chaos. 

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Radio Bulgaria News    70 Russian diplomats BSP Bulgarian Socialist Party Kiril Petkov Kornelia Ninova

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