In another attempt to break the political deadlock, President Rumen Radev announced early parliamentary elections on October 27, the seventh election in three years.
Bulgaria is preparing for its seventh snap elections in three years. President Rumen Radev has announced that the vote will take place on October 27, seeking to break the political impasse caused by minority governments, failed coalitions and low voter turnout.
“The political crisis is not over”he warned, however, before the investiture ceremony, before adding that there would be no solution until a lasting majority had been established in Parliament in order to establish a stable government.
Rumen Radev has reappointed caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev as interim cabinet chairman after a false start last week over disagreement over the appointment of previous candidate Goritsa Kozhareva as interior minister.
Bulgaria, plagued by political instability since 2020
Bulgaria, a country of 6.7 million people, has been gripped by political instability since 2020, when mass protests erupted against corrupt politicians who had allowed oligarchs to take control of state institutions.
In six early elections, only two votes have produced a government, which has collapsed each time after reform-minded politicians tried to tackle political corruption and end the country’s dependence on Russia for energy and security.
The last election in June failed to produce a clear winner, with a fragmented legislature of seven parties unable to assemble a viable coalition.
The centre-right GERB party, led by three-time prime minister Boyko Borisov, won 68 seats, the most of any party but far short of a majority in the 240-seat parliament. It was unable to find coalition partners.
The wave of early elections has also dampened Bulgarians’ interest in politics. Turnout fell from 50% in the April 2021 vote to 33% in June – the lowest since the end of communist rule in 1989.
Appointment of new Bulgarian European Commissioner
The crisis could hamper Bulgaria’s plans to quickly join the eurozone and implement the reforms needed to unlock EU recovery funds.
The government must also appoint a new Bulgarian European Commissioner before the deadline of Friday 30 August.
The GERB party has nominated former Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva. Other names under consideration include former Party of European Socialists chairman Sergei Stanishev and incumbent Iliana Ivanova, who is favoured by Ursula von der Leyen and the European Commission.
