Three-Way Coalition Talks 'In Preparation' - Reformists' Co-Chair

A meeting between conservative GERB party, right-wing Reformist Bloc and nationalist Patriotic Front is currently being prepared, Radan Kanev from the RB has claimed.

"Brief talks" have been held about the prospects of a three-way meeting at which potential joint participation in government has to be discussed, Kanev told the Bulgarian National Radio on the sidelines of Parliament as the legislature is set to hot its first regular session after being convened on Monday.

Patriotic Front co-head Valeri Simeonov, on the other hand, denies such meeting has been scheduled.

Center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) announced after talks with all parties Tuesday that a "minority coalition" including the right-wingers was the only solution to a prospective political deadlock.

Reformists are however adamant the alliance to form Bulgaria's next cabinet should also include the Patriotic Front and thus represent a majority in Parliament.

The bloc has therefore refused GERB's proposal that the two parties form their own government and has called for a "three-way" meeting to smooth out differences.

PF insists no politicians, but only experts, should take part in the next government, and refuse to propose their own cadres for ministers.

GERB for its part said Wednesday it does not perceive the RB's statement as a "condition", but rather as "one of the options" to be discussed.

Most experts have so far suggested the next government will most likely be composed from the three abovementioned parties, with the RB and PF reaching an agreement about most priorities at their consultations with GERB in the past two weeks.