Bulgaria Faces Seventh Election in Three Years as Third Mandate Fails

Bulgaria is heading to its seventh election in three years after the Speaker of the National Assembly, Raya Nazaryan, refused President Rumen Radev's offer to be the next acting Prime Minister. The two discussed this possibility in a meeting at the presidency after "There Is Such a People" (TISP) returned the unfulfilled third mandate. The president now has two months to select a new caretaker prime minister to propose a government and prepare for the upcoming vote.

The meeting between the president and TISP was brief, lasting only 30 minutes. President Radev expressed concerns about the functioning of the parliamentary state, while TISP explained that they had attempted to fulfill the mandate but lacked the necessary support from other parliamentary parties despite holding consultations.

President Radev thanked TISP for their efforts in a challenging political environment, noting the ongoing cycle of inconclusive elections which causes institutional blockages, public disenchantment with the democratic process, and doubts about the efficacy of parliamentarism. He urged the parties to learn from the failure of the 50th Parliament and emphasized the importance of forging successful governing coalitions before elections, calling for meaningful political debate and fair play in the upcoming campaign.

TISP found some positivity in the consultations, having managed to engage with almost all parties, creating a basis for future dialogue, though they admitted that political consensus remained elusive.

Now, the president must appoint a new caretaker prime minister. Radev indicated that the list of potential candidates had narrowed, with Raya Nazaryan being the only new addition. However, Nazaryan reaffirmed her position against taking the role,...