„I do not know at this stage whether it will be discussed that Atanas Atanasov will be the speaker of the parliament. But the issue of the chairmanship of the National Assembly was discussed before. It was a matter of finding a governing majority where the Speaker of the National Assembly would be discussed again. We said: “Let us elect for the moment the speaker of the parliament from the largest first political group in the parliament – GERD –SDS. And if we reach an agreement for a majority, then our decision for Speaker of the Parliament can be renegotiated, revised and changed.
SDS Chairman Rumen Hristov said this to NOVA News, commenting on the question of whether an option for Atanas Atanasov to be Speaker of the National Assembly has been discussed against the background of the upcoming meeting between GERB-SDS and PP-DB, at which the two political forces agreed.
In Hristov's words, “this is the first meeting between the two formations within the framework of the 51st NA”. “We are very much at the beginning of these conversations. At this meeting, above all, the possibility of establishing a management majority should be considered and negotiated. First the majority, then who will be the president of the National Assembly, then the prime minister, the legislative program, explained Hristov.
And he added: “For now, it is categorical that we want Mr. Boyko Borisov to be prime minister. When life-saving surgery is needed – the best are wanted. The situation in Bulgaria is very difficult, and from this point of view the leader of GERB, who has vast experience as prime minister and party leader, would be useful for all Bulgarians and the country as a whole. Of course, young colleagues are experimenting, but this could happen when the state can afford it. But now it's about making difficult and important decisions, and in our opinion, Mr. Borisov would do it best out of all the politicians in the parliament.
Hristov emphasized that "the election of Atanas Atanasov as chairman of the National Assembly is an option if we reach an agreement on a governing majority.
When asked if there is a back-up option in the case of Boyko Borisov's categorical refusal to be prime minister, the chairman of the SDS said: "Both options - Rosen Zhelyazkov and Professor Nikolay Gabrovski, were proposed and rejected by the parliament. I believe that at this stage we must categorically advocate for the leader of the winning party, Mr. Boyko Borisov, to be prime minister, so that the important things before the state can be done. I don't think that we, as the first political force, should back down on behalf of Mr. Borisov as prime minister.