Bulgaria’s parliament recently rejected a minority government proposed by the GERB party, which had only 68 legislators in the 240-seat National Assembly. The party’s proposal to make Rosen Zhelyazkov the next prime minister was rejected by a vote of 138-98. Zhelyazkov, a 56-year-old lawyer and former speaker of parliament, was chosen by GERB to head the new government over their leader, Boyko Borissov. Borissov, who led three governments between 2009 and 2021, resigned following anti-corruption protests. Despite Borissov’s attempts to form a coalition, he failed to garner enough support.
After the rejection of the proposed minority government, the country’s president will now hand the mandate for forming a government to the runner-up in the elections, the MRF party. Analysts predict that it will be difficult to form a viable coalition in the current parliament, leading to the possibility of new elections. This would further deepen the political crisis in Bulgaria, the European Union’s poorest member country. The rejection of the government proposal marks a continuation of instability in Bulgaria’s political landscape, with six elections held in the last three years resulting in shaky coalitions.
The GERB party, which finished first in the June elections, faced challenges in forming a government due to its lack of legislators in parliament. Despite support for Borissov, the party chose Zhelyazkov as their candidate for prime minister. Borissov’s resignation following anti-corruption protests contributed to the party’s decision to nominate Zhelyazkov. With Borissov’s unsuccessful attempts to form a coalition, the future of the government remains uncertain.
The rejection of the minority government proposal highlights the difficulties faced by Bulgarian politicians in forming stable coalitions. The country’s president will now look to the MRF party to potentially form a new government. However, analysts believe that a viable coalition may be hard to achieve in the current political climate. The possibility of new elections looms, which would further exacerbate the political crisis in Bulgaria, a country known for its economic challenges within the European Union.
In conclusion, the rejection of the GERB party’s proposed minority government in Bulgaria has left the country in a state of uncertainty. With ongoing political instability and challenges in coalition-building, the future of the government remains unclear. The potential for new elections could deepen the political crisis in the EU’s poorest member country. As Bulgarian politicians navigate these challenges, the focus remains on finding a path towards stability and effective governance in the face of continued uncertainty.
