This week kicked off with new political events surrounding the third mandate and the possible formation of a cabinet. Talks between the parties are not, however, producing anything different to the previous ones. This means that Bulgaria is almost certainly heading towards news elections, ushering in many more questions about Bulgaria's energy outlook and overall security.
Radev chose BSP for the mandate
After 2 unsuccessful attempts, the President Rumen Radev confirmed that the recipient of the third mandate to form a government will be the Socialist Party (BSP). Both Petkov's WCC and Borissov's GERB had to return the mandate to Radev due to their unsuccessful political attempts to create a cabinet. It seems that the third time will be no different as the BSP's leader, Kornelia Ninova, is not expected to find the necessary coalition partners or find a new cabinet formula. Nevertheless, talks are set to continue in the coming days even though the most likely scenario is that Bulgaria is heading towards its fourth parliamentary election in just 18 months, most likely to be held in October.
GERB out of favor for deals
"Euro-Atlantic coalitions with the participation of GERB are impossible; we have dramatically opposite views about the economy and politics," said Democratic Bulgaria's MP Vladislav Panev.
Surprisingly, even ethnic minorities and pro-Kremlin parties like DPS and Vazrazhdane do not seem to favor partnering GERB in a future cabinet. In the past, Borissov's governments were usually supported by DPS and the nationalist political parties, either directly or indirectly.
Macedonia votes for French proposal
With 68 votes "for" and none "against" and in the absence of MPs from the pro-Belgrade political parties VMRO-DPMNE and l "Levitsa", the North Macedonian parliament has adopted draft conclusions to enable the cabinet to give directions in the negotiation process for EU integration. In effect, this was the actual vote in favor of the "French" proposal - as a month ago, the Bulgarian parliament also voted yes and therefore overturned the longstanding veto.
Albanian parties, regardless of whether they support the government, voted in favor and secured a majority in the 120-member legislature.
This week kicked off with new political events surrounding the third mandate and the possible formation of a cabinet. Talks between the parties are not, however, producing anything different to the previous ones. This means that Bulgaria is almost certainly heading towards news elections, ushering in many more questions about Bulgaria's energy outlook and overall security.
