The ruling coalition in Bulgaria will seek immediate accession to the Schengen area, potentially affecting procedures at the Greek-Bulgarian border, as well as entry into the eurozone if the proposed government of former Prime Minister Kirill Petkov’s party led by academician Nikolai Denkov wins parliamentary support.

At a press conference held on Tuesday by the coalition of the Continued Changes parties of Mr. Petkov and Democratic Bulgaria party runner-up Hristo Ivanov on April 2, it was announced that if Boyko Borisov were to win the election, it would appear that form a government majority in parliament, and he will propose a government led by Mr. Denkof.

The liberal faction led by Mr. Petkov appears to be hoping that the Bulgarian parliament will vote for tolerance so that the neighboring country can finally be governed after five electoral contests in two years that have led to parliamentary splits.

The coalition of parties “Continuation of Changes” – “Democratic Bulgaria” (PP-DB) nominated 64 deputies a month ago, five less than the GERB of former Prime Minister Borisov. Accusations of corruption and personal rivalry have so far made it impossible to form a viable ruling coalition.

In statements on Tuesday in Sofia, PP-DB officials promised that their government would be based on five pillars: joining the Schengen area within a year, joining the eurozone, reducing inflation, reforming the requirements of the European Recovery Plan, and a new approach to selection and financing of regional projects.

In the government’s proposed scheme, which would require a vote of confidence, Asen Vasilev would be finance minister and Irena Dimitrova would be foreign minister.

Source: WTA