SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria's ethnic Turkish party MRF will not take part in a coalition with the nationalist Attack, its leader said on Tuesday, scuppering chances of a broad Socialist-led alliance that could command a majority in parliament.
Attack, whose anti-Roma and anti-Turkish policies and pledges of nationalisations may alarm the European Union, has emerged as kingmaker from an election on Sunday. But it is difficult for other parties to work with, which may mean a new vote.
The centre-right GERB, which resigned from government during protests in February, will be the largest party in parliament but it cannot count on support from any other group due to its tarnished reputation.
The other option is for a broad alliance of other parties but traditional partners the Socialists and MRF will probably fall just short of a majority in the 240-seat parliament and would need backing from Attack to form a government.
"There can't be a coalition between MRF and Attack in any form," MRF leader Lyutvi Mestan told national radio station BNR. "This would be an absolute distortion of policy and I will not participate in this process."
(Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
