Politics of Europe

The new Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov (R) and the new Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel (L) after taking the oath at the Parliament in Sofia, Bulgaria, 06 June 2023. EPA-EFE/VASSIL DONEV

The new government came to power with 132 votes in favour and 69 against.

Will there be a regular government? GERB-SDS have 69 deputies, and "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" - 63, or 132 in total. Thus, the two largest coalitions secure a majority according to their previously declared intentions.

The head of state Rumen Radev has issued a decree for the voting of the proposed WCC-DB cabinet, and the speaker of the National Assembly has scheduled an extraordinary meeting for tomorrow.

The candidate for Prime Minister of "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB) Acad. Nikolay Denkov returned to President Rumen Radev the completed second exploratory mandate to form a government.

"Even before the elections, I said that the only good thing is an expert, broad government, but if it doesn't happen - then one between the first two parties. I think that Denkov and Gabriel are very close to making a decision. But until they agree, we haven't agreed on anything". This was stated by GERB leader Boyko Borissov on the sidelines of the parliament.

WCC-DB renewed negotiations with GERB-SDS in the National Assembly, led by the nominees for prime ministers from both coalitions, Nikolay Denkov and Mariya Gabriel, and in the presence of the leaders of the political formations.

The Sofia City Prosecutor's Office proposed to the Chief Prosecutor of the Republic of Bulgaria - Ivan Geshev - to submit a reasoned request to the National Assembly for permission to initiate criminal prosecution against Boyko Borissov - former Prime Minister and deputy in the 49th National Assembly.

Kiril Petkov speaks to media as he arrives for an EU-Western Balkans leaders' meeting in Brussels, 23 June 2022.  Photo: EPA-EFE/STEPHANIE LECOCQ

A week ago, the reformist party and ex-PM Boyko Borissov's GERB hatched an unexpected deal to form an 18-month cabinet, first headed by the WCC's Nickolay Denkov for nine months and then by GERB's Mariya Gabriel.

"The national leadership of 'Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria' (DSB) reaffirms its decision to support the PP-DB candidate for Prime Minister - Academician Nikolay Denkov. We believe that there is no change in the political analysis that led to our support for him and the management formula that was achieved.

The executive committee of GERB will meet today to analyze the new political situation after yesterday the deputy of "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" Radostin Vassilev announced that he was leaving the group and released a recording made by him without the knowledge of his colleagues from a meeting of the leadership of "We Continue the Change".