Balkans | Bulgarian President Radev tasked the Socialists with forming a government

If the attempt to form the twelfth government since 2021 also fails, early general elections are expected again in March.

While the political crisis in Bulgaria continued, President Rumen Radev entrusted the task of forming the government to the Bulgarian Socialist Party.

Radev gave the task of forming the government to Cornelia Nenova, the head of the BSP party, which has 24 seats in the 240-member parliament, at the ceremony at the presidency, “I think the BSP is the party that has the most chance in this bid.” Use the phrase.

In her speech at the ceremony, Ninova said, “Recognizing the critical situation of our country, our party has shown that it bears a responsibility and that it supports dialogue time and time again.” He said.

The constitutional procedure does not specify a clear time frame for the completion of the government formation mandate.

If the BSP fails to form a government, President Radev will dissolve Parliament and set a date for new, early general elections in the country.

Before the BSP, which ranks fifth in the Bulgarian Parliament, consisting of 7 parties, Citizens for European Development in Bulgaria (GERB) and the Continue Change Party (PP), led by one of the ex-ministers. The ministers, Boyko Borisov, were unable to form a government.

After the regular general elections held in April 2021 in Bulgaria, the country held three snap general elections after a coalition government could not be formed.

In the last 4 parliaments, different parties have tried to form a government 11 times in total and failed.

If the BSP’s attempt to form a government fails, early general elections are expected again in March in Bulgaria.

The latest situation in the political arena

Continuing the political tradition of the former Communist Party in Parliament and continuing opposition to sending arms to Ukraine during the war, the pro-Russian BSP’s chances of forming a government are considered “low” by the other six parties.

Leaders of GERB, the first party in parliament, and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (HÖH), whose members are mostly Turks and Muslims, argue that Bulgaria is firmly on its way to early elections.

“President Radev has made it clear that he does not want to form a government by choosing the BSP,” said Deslava Atanasova, chair of the GERB Parliamentary Group. He said.

Nikola Menchev, deputy chairman of the People’s Party and deputy speaker of parliament, noted that the BSP’s position on the war in Ukraine was a “serious problem”, adding “it will be very difficult for this party to form a government”. He said.

We cannot support the Basic Payment Plan. We have deep differences with this party over the war in Ukraine and the reduction of Russian influence in Bulgaria,” said Nadia Yordanova, a member of parliament for the EU and pro-NATO Democratic Party of Bulgaria. He said.

Stefan Yaniv, leader of the Bulgarian Ascension Party, the smallest party in parliament, said it was necessary for the parties involved in a potential coalition government to reach a written agreement.

The populist Rebirth Party, which supports the policies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has also stated that it would definitely favor early elections.

AA