Bulgaria Swears in New Caretaker Government Ahead of Snap Elections

Bulgaria’s New Caretaker Government Sworn In Ahead of Snap Elections

Bulgaria has officially sworn in a new caretaker government as it gears up for its seventh snap election in a mere three years. President Rumen Radev announced that the election will take place on October 27, marking yet another attempt to resolve the ongoing political deadlock characterized by minority governments, failed coalitions, and disappointing voter turnout. “The political crisis is not over,” Radev stated during the swearing-in ceremony, emphasizing that a viable solution would only emerge when a stable parliamentary majority is established to elect an effective government.

In a recent move, Radev reappointed caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev to lead the interim cabinet. This decision followed a prior misstep last week when he dismissed the original candidate, Goritsa Kozhareva, due to disagreements over her proposed choice for the interior minister position.

Gripped by Political Instability

Bulgaria, home to approximately 6.7 million residents, has been entrenched in political turmoil since 2020. This instability was largely fueled by mass protests against corrupt politicians who allowed oligarchs to gain control over state institutions. Despite a series of six snap elections, only two have successfully produced an elected government, both of which eventually collapsed after reform-minded politicians attempted to tackle political corruption and reduce the country’s dependence on Russian energy and security.

The most recent election, held in June, failed to yield a clear victor. The fragmented legislature, consisting of seven parties, was unable to forge a successful coalition. The center-right GERB party, led by three-time Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, secured 68 seats, the highest number of any party, but fell short of the majority needed in the 240-seat parliament. Consequently, the party struggled to find coalition partners.

The ongoing political crisis is anticipated to hinder Bulgaria’s aspirations to join the Eurozone promptly, as well as to implement essential reforms needed to access EU recovery funds. The series of snap elections has also dampened public interest in politics; voter apathy has increased, and turnout has dropped significantly, with election campaigns increasingly marred by propaganda and personal attacks. For instance, voter turnout plummeted from 50% during the April 2021 elections to just 33% in June—the lowest level since the end of communist rule in 1989.

The caretaker cabinet faces an additional challenge: appointing a new Bulgarian EU Commissioner by the approaching deadline on Friday. The GERB party has nominated former foreign minister Ekaterina Zaharieva for the role. Other contenders being considered include Sergei Stanishev, the former chairman of the Party of European Socialists, and the current incumbent Iliana Ivanova, who is favored by Ursula von der Leyen and the European Commission.