Boyko Borissov

The US State Department's new 2022 annual human rights report says the Bulgarian government's efforts to address corruption and human rights abuses are "insufficient."

The report said steps had been taken to investigate officials accused of human rights abuses and corruption, but there was a problem of impunity.

Boyko Borissov, leader of Bulgaria's GERB party, speaks at a press conference in Sofia, Bulgaria, 4 October 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE/VASSIL DONEV

Bulgaria's president dissolved the National Assembly on Thursday and called early parliamentary elections for April 2 in hopes of resolving the country's a bid to settle the country's prolonged political impasse and biting economic woes.

President Rumen Radevon also appointed a caretaker government ahead of the snap vote, which will be Bulgaria's fifth in two years.

Rumen Radev, Bulgarian president, running for a new mandate, in Sofia, 18 November 2021. Photo; EPA-EFE/VASSIL DONEV

This will be the fifth general election in Bulgaria in two years and will be followed by mayoral elections later in 2023, which will test the centre-right GERB party's dominance in local administration.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev arrives for two-day EU Council meeting in Brussels 20 October 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE/STEPHANIE LECOCQ

Snap elections will take place in late March or early April. 

After the upcoming early parliamentary elections, the fifth in the last two years, GERB and BSP will not enter into a coalition... officially. The two formations would shake hands for an expert cabinet.

"Early elections are inevitable" - this is what BSP leader Kornelia Ninova said after the leadership meeting that took place in parliament. The conversation was between BSP, GERB, DPS and "Bulgarian Rise".

"We Continue the Change", "Democratic Bulgaria" and "Vazrazhdane" did not participate.

The leadership meeting organized by the parliamentary group, the receiver of the third mandate to form a government - BSP - began in the National Assembly.

The chairwoman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party Kornelia Ninova talked about management priorities with the leaders of GERB Boyko Borissov, DPS Mustafa Karadayi and "Bulgarian Rise" Stefan Yanev.

The National Security Service (NSS) has removed the security of former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov.

This was confirmed today by Petkov, currently an MP and co-chairman of "We Continue the Change".

The reason - a lost necessity, i.e. lack of threat to the person.

A deputy enters the plenary hall of parliament in Sofia, 19 October 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE/VASSIL DONEV