Bulgarian Socialist Party

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev will give the mandate for the formation of the government to the Bulgarian socialists on Saturday (1 May), his office announced on Thursday. The two previous attempts to form a cabinet following the 4 April general elections failed.

The National Council of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) decided that the party will support  President Rumen Radev for a second term run.

The decision was taken unanimously during the BSP National Council, which took place on Saturday.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov told an April 7 Cabinet meeting of the scenarios he envisages for the possible formation of a new government in Bulgaria.

Bulgarian Socialist Party leader Kornelia Ninova said on April 5 that the party's entire executive bureau had resigned in, but she herself was not stepping down.

"I was elected only 6 months ago by a large majority in the party, but more importantly, a Parliament is to be formed," Ninova added.

Election results based on 99% of the tally sheets processed show that 6 Bulgarian parties will have seats in the next Parliament, data from the Central Election Commission.

Ruling GERB-UDF coalition has the largest share of votes in the April 4 parliamentary elections. It has received 26.14%.

Bulgarians voted on Sunday (4 April) sending in Parliament three new political forces largely representing the anti-corruption protests during the summer. Boyko Borissov's GERB party remained the largest force, but appears unable to form a government.

PM Boyko Borissov casts his ballot in Sofia on Sunday. Photo: EPA-EFE/GOVERNMENT PRESS OFFICE.

The figures represent a significant fall in support for GERB from the last elections in 2017.

The election will pose a major test of the ruling coalition after much criticism and last year's mass protests against corruption, shrinking media freedoms and questionable populist moves, such as the decision to block North Macedonia's progress towards EU membership.

Bulgaria's Parliament failed on August 13 to secure the necessary quorum to hold an extraordinary sitting. The MPs from the ruling coalition partners, GERB and the United Patriots, were not present.

We want a change in the model through resignation of the government. Bulgaria is ruled by a parallel state. This was said at a press conference by the leader the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Korneliya Ninova, after a meeting of the party's Executive Bureau on June 9.