Government

*The joint National Political Bureau of the ACL Christian Liberal Alliance of the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) on Monday designated PNL's national leader Klaus Iohannis ACL's presidential candidate.

Executive chairman of the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), Deputy Premier Liviu Dragnea, says that the designation of leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL) Klaus Iohannis as the candidate of the Christian Liberal Alliance (ACL) for the presidential election will not change anything in the Social Democrats' campaign strategy.

Bulgaria's caretaker Prime Minister Georgi Bliznashki has appointed the first batch of caretaker deputy ministers.

Turkey's presidential election was historic on many levels, but these oddities may have passed under the radar...
1) Uncle Mehmet, ‘the 130-year-old voter’

The defeated presidential candidate Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu should not be judged as either a success or failure, as it is the opposition parties that nominated him that should be judged, according to Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Aug. 11 on winning the election for the Turkish presidency and underscored the country's pivotal role in the troubled region.

Having won Turkey’s first direct presidential elections, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday pledged a "new era" for the country.

Bulgaria's interim PM Georgi Bliznashki has given up on the idea of having a minister, responsible for the organisation of the elections, said the government press office. 

Outgoing President Abdullah Gül gave a strong signal for his return to active politics in the ranks of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Aug. 11, though on the same day the AKP decided to hold an extraordinary convention to elect the new chairman on Aug. 27, in an apparent move to stop Gül immediately joining the party as leader.

Outgoing President Abdullah Gül gave a strong signal for his return to active politics in the ranks of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Aug. 11, though on the same day the AKP decided to hold an extraordinary convention to elect the new chairman on Aug. 27, in an apparent move to stop Gül immediately joining the party as leader.