May 4 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria's new coalition government will focus on maintaining the stability of the currency board system and fighting corruption, prime minister Boyko Borissov said before his new government - the third in eight years - took the oath of office in parliament on Thursday.
Bulgaria will aim at GDP of 120 billion levs ($65.18 billion/61.34 billion euro) during the four-year term of office of the coalition cabinet, Borissov told parliament. His speech was aired live by public TV broadcaster BNT.
The government, comprising members of centre-right GERB party led by Borissov and nationalist alliance United Patriots also plans to increase the minimum monthly wage to 650 levs, while the average monthly wage will rise to 1,500 levs, Borissov said. The average gross monthly wage in Bulgaria was 990 levs at end-2016, while the minimum wage was 460 levs.
On Thursday, the parliament approved the GERB-led coalition government in a 133-100 vote.
"We are at a historic moment for the world and Europe, our country needs responsibility, security, a better present and a successful future," Borissov said.
Following early elections in March, GERB has 95 of 240 seats, while United Patriots control 27. Populist party Volya led by businessman Veselin Mareshki, which controls 12 seats in parliament, vowed its support for the new coalition government, BNT reported.
The previous GERB-led coalition government resigned in November 2016 after the party's candidate in the presidential elections, parliament speaker Tsetska Tsacheva, lost to Rumen Radev, a former Air Force Commander backed by opposition Socialists.
GERB's first government resigned in 2013 after protests against high electricity bills escalated into anti-government marches in several Bulgarian cities.
(1 euro = 1.95583 levs)