Coalition Challenges Push Bulgaria Toward Potential April Elections

In Bulgaria, the political climate remains tense as parties struggle to form a stable coalition following parliamentary elections. The uncertainty has persisted, with significant divisions between key political groups such as GERB, "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB), and the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). This stalemate reflects deeper systemic challenges in Bulgaria's governance, with frequent elections and fragile coalitions becoming a recurring pattern in recent years.

In an interview with BNR, sociologist Kolyo Kolev from the Mediana agency predicts that new elections are likely to occur in early April. He expressed skepticism about the possibility of a coalition between WCC-DB, GERB, and BSP, describing it as increasingly unlikely due to internal contradictions that would limit such a government's longevity to six months or a year. Kolev noted that political parties seem to be stalling, engaging in what he described as a "game of passing the blame," where no party wants to take full responsibility for the current deadlock. He also criticized WCC-DB for adopting a public stance of willingness to govern while, in reality, avoiding concrete commitments to coalition-building.

According to Kolev, WCC-DB's reluctance to enter into a coalition with GERB stems from concerns about potential image damage. He likened their actions to a ritualistic denial of association with GERB, driven by the fear that collaboration could alienate their voter base. Kolev also doubted that a resolution would emerge with the proposed election of Gen. Atanas Atanasov as Speaker of the Parliament, describing the situation as a continuation of political gamesmanship. He remarked that GERB leader Boyko Borissov's insistence on the need for a Speaker...