Bulgaria's Socialist MPs Instructed to Thumb Down on Gov't

The leadership of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) has formally recommended lawmakers from the party to vote against the new government when names are to be put forward for a motion in Parliament.

"The party's Executive Bureau... recommends the parliamentary group to vote against the appointment of a Council of Ministers," BSP Chairman Mihail Mikov announced as quoted by the website Dariknews.

After Tuesday's session of the Executive Bureau, the party's permanent decision-making body, Mikov also announced the intention of socialists to remain in opposition had also been given the green light.

Mikov's remarks came hours after the latest round of consultations between conservative GERB and the Reformist Bloc (RB), the two parties intending to form a minority coalition.

Both GERB and the RB confirmed they expected support from the nationalist Patriotic Front (PF) and left-wing ABV.

At the same time Mikov said socialists would have a National Council on Friday, November 7.

He explained he would use the session to put forward his proposals for reshuffles within the Executive Bureau.

The BSP is still looking for ways to recover from the two huge defeats it suffered to GERB at both European and national elections this year.