Failure to form pro-Western government in Bulgaria

There was no clear majority in parliament to vote for Rosen Chelyaskov as prime minister. Now it is the turn of the second most powerful faction.

In Bulgaria, a pro-Western government failed to form after new elections on June 9. The candidate for prime minister, Rosen Chelyaskov, nominated by the winning party Gerb-SDS, clearly missed the majority vote in parliament. This meant that there were no further votes – on the structure and composition of the minority government.

According to GERB party leader Boyko Borissov, this was supposed to prepare Bulgaria for the introduction of the euro and the continuation of the pro-Ukrainian course in the EU and NATO member state. The head of state will now task Rumen Radev, the second largest faction in the liberal Movement for Rights and Freedoms, with forming a new government.

The Bulgarian constitution provides for the possibility of awarding three government contracts. If all three fail, another general election must be held. This will be the seventh since April 2021. Until a regular government is formed in Sofia, an interim government will run the government. (APA/dpa)