Bulgaria: Former Foreign Minister Tipped for Borissov’s Successor

Outgoing Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on Wednesday (14 April) put forward Daniel Mitov, a diplomat, as his successor although most analysts agree that the proposed cabinet will likely be rejected by the new Parliament.

Borissov said he was the most qualified for Prime Minister but said he would send on Thursday Mitov, 43, who was his foreign affairs minister in 2014-2017, to get the mandate from the President to form a new government.

Bulgarians voted for change on 4 April, sending three new political parties to the 240-member parliament.

Boyko Borissov's GERB party (EPP-affiliated) obtained 26.18% of the votes and 75 seats, which makes it the biggest party in Parliament. However, the three new political forces which stem from last summer's protests appear to carry more weight.

According to the constitution, GERB, as the party with the highest number of seats, will first attempt to form a government. If according to expectation GERB fails, the second political party in Parliament will make an attempt.

TV showman Slavi Trifonov's party "There is such a people" obtained 17.66% of the vote and commands 51 MPs. Trifonov's attempt is expected to be successful. If he fails, the President will give the mandate to a parliamentarian party of his choice.

The other potential contenders, according to their ranking, are the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) with 15.01% and 43 seats, the mostly ethnic Turkish 'Movement of Rights and Freedoms' (DPS) with 10.36% and 30 MPs, the centre-right "Democratic Bulgaria" of Hristo Ivanov with 9.45% and 27 seats, and the centre-left "Stand up! Mafia out" of Maya Manolova, with 4.72% and 14 MPs.

The three "protest" parties - "There is such a people", "Democratic Bulgaria" and "Stand...