Bulgaria’s Former Ruling Gerb Party Returns Mandate, Awaits Comeback

Gerb leder and former PM Boyko Borissov speaking after the July elections in Sofia, Bulgaria, 12 July 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/VASSIL DONEV

However, hinting at its ambitions to form a government soon, despite returning the mandate to President Rumen Radev, GERB also announced a projected cabinet as a sign that it is ready to offer a new government at any time. 

"GERB won't officially offer this cabinet, as it won't gain any support [in parliament]," said Daniel Mitov, who earlier this year became one of the most vocal representatives of GERB after spending years criticizing Borissov's politics. However, he expressed confidence that there can't be a future government without the party's presence in it. 

This development follows the unsuccessful attempt by the winning party in July's elections, There is Such a Nation, to form a cabinet, which floundered amid criticisms of the choice of ministers, lack of transparency and allegedly arrogant attitude to potential coalition partners. 

Bulgaria remains in an unprecedented situation after both the April and the July elections proved inconclusive, and with each one delivering a different winner. 

Radev is now expected to hand the mandate to a party of his choosing before the country likely enters its third parliamentary election in a year. In the spring, he chose the Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, which is also supporting his forthcoming presidential reelection campaign. 

Usually an unwanted partner because of its pro-Moscow stances and association with the old Communist regime, the tone taken towards the BSP by the other two so-called "parties of the protest" - Democratic Bulgaria and "Stand Up.BG! We're Coming!" - has softened during the last week.

The three parties have arranged...