After three failed attempts to form a government, Bulgaria is again facing new elections. Tonight, President Rumen Radev named April 2 as the date for the fifth parliamentary election in two years. The leader of the Socialists, Kornelia Ninova, had already informed the head of state that her party also failed to form a government.
This means that the last of three possible attempts in the EU member state after the most recent election in October has failed. A transitional cabinet currently governs in Sofia.
Instability with possible consequences at EU level
Radew must now officially schedule the election by decree and name a new transitional cabinet. He announced that he would dissolve parliament on 3 February. Prior to the Socialist Party (BSP), the two largest parties – the centre-right GERB and the liberal PP – failed to form a government. A total of seven parties are represented in Parliament.
Radev had already warned that the domestic political crisis could make it difficult for the country to join the Schengen area and implement an EU recovery plan. Due to political instability, experts also question the planned introduction of the euro in 2024.