Sofia, Bulgaria – As the deadline for forming a new government approaches, Bulgaria stands on the brink of early parliamentary elections, with predictions suggesting that the 50th National Assembly may struggle to establish a regular cabinet.
If the third mandate to form a government fails, President Rumen Radev will be compelled to call for early elections, which are likely to take place in mid-October.
The political uncertainty has intensified as the possibility of a successful government formation under the third mandate remains bleak.
The political party “There Is Such a People” (TISP) has expressed optimism about the third-term government’s prospects. However, forecasts from “Dnevnik” indicate that the assembly might not achieve the necessary consensus to establish a stable cabinet.
In the event that the third mandate proves unsuccessful, President Radev will face the task of appointing a caretaker prime minister. This caretaker prime minister, in turn, will propose a temporary government to manage affairs until the elections.
Recent constitutional amendments have narrowed the pool of eligible candidates for the caretaker prime minister position, adding a layer of complexity to the process.
According to the new constitutional ruling, the potential candidates for the caretaker prime minister role include prominent figures from various political and institutional backgrounds. Notable among these are:
- Raya Nazaryan, the Speaker of the National Assembly from the GERB party.
- Dimitar Radev (GERB) and Petar Chobanov (DPS), both of whom are currently serving or have served as governors or deputy governors of the Bulgarian National Bank. The appointment of Andrey Gyurov from “We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria,” who is on unpaid leave and entangled in legal proceedings, adds complexity to the decision.
- Dimitar Glavchev (GERB), the acting Prime Minister, Gorica Grancharova-Kozhareva (DPS), and Toshko Todorov (GERB), who hold or have held significant positions such as the Chairman or Deputy Chairman of the Audit Chamber.
- The role of the ombudsman or their deputy could also be considered. However, with the current ombudsman position vacant following the resignation of Elena Cherneva-Markova in March and no plans for a new appointment before mid-August, this option remains uncertain.
Once President Radev appoints the caretaker government, he will also need to schedule the early elections. Constitutional experts predict that the most probable dates for these elections are October 13 or October 20.
The political landscape in Bulgaria remains fluid, and the potential for early elections underscores the ongoing challenges within the country’s political system.
As the situation develops, all eyes will be on the President’s decisions and the ensuing electoral process, which could reshape the Bulgarian political scene in the coming months.