Mariya Gabriel

After so much drama, both the first and second mandates to form a cabinet in Bulgaria failed within a single day, escalating political tensions and uncertainty in the country's governance.

Today, the Bulgarian National Assembly has voted to end the first mandate aimed at forming a government with Prime Minister candidate Mariya Gabriel. The decision, reached after only one hour of debates where representatives from GERB and DPS abstained, signals the conclusion of the initial phase of government formation efforts.

Kiril Petkov, co-chairman of "We Continue the Change," has asserted the coalition's readiness to take responsibility for navigating the second mandate to form a government. Ahead of a pivotal meeting of the "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB) parliamentary group, Petkov addressed the media, outlining the coalition's stance on ongoing negotiations.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mariya Gabriel, has underscored Bulgaria's commitment to its accession to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as a top foreign policy objective.

GERB is gearing up to vote on Mariya Gabriel's unsuccessful mandate following another round of failed negotiations with "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB). Deputy Chairperson Temenuzka Petkova of GERB submitted a draft resolution to parliament early this morning, seeking to terminate Gabriel's mandate to form a government.

Amidst Bulgaria's political landscape, President Rumen Radev adopts a stance of cautious anticipation as the nation navigates through complex parliamentary procedures. The President's office, in response to inquiries from BNR, clarifies that the National Assembly's deliberations on a decree proposal for Prime Minister election will precede any further executive action.

Mariya Gabriel has officially declared her withdrawal from participating in the parliamentary procedure for selecting a prime minister and proposing a government structure. The announcement was made through an application submitted to the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Parliamentary Group of GERB, signaling a pivotal moment in the ongoing negotiations for government formation.

Former Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov has called on GERB to honor the agreement made nine months ago and refrain from plunging the country into chaos by opting for early elections. Denkov's statement comes five hours after GERB's negotiating team, led by Mariya Gabriel, announced the termination of negotiations and a push for new elections.

Amid escalating tensions within Bulgaria's political sphere, discussions between GERB and "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB) have abruptly faltered once more. The breakdown stems from the latter's insistence on new conditions, leading GERB to withdraw from negotiations and call for snap elections.

The political turmoil in Bulgaria escalates as resigned Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov continues to advocate for dialogue amidst a deadlock in government formation. Speaking from Brussels, Denkov emphasized the imperative of sitting down at the negotiating table to explore avenues for resolution.