Socialists failed to form a government in Bulgaria

Korneliya Ninova, leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), which was unable to form a government in Bulgaria, returned President Rumen Radev to office.

The failure of the BSP, which has 24 members in Bulgaria’s 240-seat parliament, to form a government paved the way for the country’s fifth early general election in the past two years. At the ceremony held at the Presidency, Ninova pointed out that her party, which was tasked with forming the cabinet in the 48th parliament, did its best, saying, “As a party, we presented 4 main priorities to the other parties. These include Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area, the adoption of the necessary laws in relation to the Development and Sustainability Plan, the vote on the 2023 budget, and reforms of the judicial system. We invite all parties to negotiations. We understood from the attitudes of the parties that participated and did not participate in the negotiations that we could not obtain the necessary support for the formation of a government.”

President Radev, expressing appreciation for the BSP’s efforts in the country’s difficult political environment, said: “After meeting with the Central Election Commission (ZIK) on the preparation of the elections, I will announce my decision to dissolve parliament and establish a date for the new early elections”.

The Bulgarian Citizens for European Development Party (GERB), led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, who had previously been tasked with forming the government by Radev, and the Continuing Change Party (PP), also co-chaired by former Prime Minister Minister Kiril Petkov, also failed.

Radev announced that he would set a date for early elections in March if a government could not be formed in the country. (AA)