GERB and WCC-DB to give gov't rotation final chance after last-minute disputes
Despite last-minute threats that the government rotation negotiations are bound to fail, GERB gave WCC-DB 24 hours to come to an agreement and fulfill the first mandate to form a cabinet by noon on Tuesday.
The crisis came about on Sunday evening when, after a week of secretive talks, the four GERB representatives discussing the alleged coalition agreement with their partners unexpectedly announced that WCC-DB are not treating their party as equals and threatened to leave the negotiating table. The leadership of the reformists responded with surprise, presenting a coalition-like document that was the joint effort of both sides.
In response, GERB's nominee for PM Mariya Gabriel took the mandate to form a cabinet from President Rumen Radev at noon on Monday and her party gave an ultimatum to either find a compromise with WCC-DB by noon on the following day or return the mandate unfulfilled, which will likely lead Bulgaria to early elections in June.
Ex-Levski star Georgi Ivanov-Gonzo elected as Bulgarian Football Union president
The former Levski footballer and manager Georgi Ivanov-Gonzo won the elections to head the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) with half of the delegates' votes, plus one, on Friday. Ivanov is considered close to the controversial ex-President of the federation Borislav Mihaylov, who was voted out just minutes earlier.
Ivanov's main competitor, international football star Dimitar Berbatov, a vocal opponent of the way Mihaylov has been managing Bulgarian football affairs, received 181 votes, which were not enough for a second round of voting.
Over the past 15 years, professional football in the country has turned into a closed system of interests, mired in corruption scandals and deteriorating quality under Mihaylov's rule. It is unlikely that this will change under his successor.
Indian armed forces save 7 Bulgarian sailors kidnapped by Houthi pirates
On Sunday afternoon, the deputy PM and outgoing foreign minister Mariya Gabriel announced that the crew of the hijacked Bulgarian cargo ship Ruem, which included seven Bulgarian citizens, was released with the help of the Indian Navy.
"Thanks to the efforts of the Indian military, the entire crew of the ship has been freed. All the sailors are in good health and efforts are being made for their timely return to Bulgaria," Gabriel said. She added that the crew ought to arrive back in Bulgaria in 15 days.
The Ruen ship with eight Bulgarian, nine Myanmar and one Angolan nationals on board was hijacked by pirates in the Arabian Sea in December last year. Two more Bulgarian sailors from the Galaxy Leader ship remain in captivity.
GERB and WCC-DB to give gov't rotation final chance after last-minute disputes
Despite last-minute threats that the government rotation negotiations are bound to fail, GERB gave WCC-DB 24 hours to come to an agreement and fulfill the first mandate to form a cabinet by noon on Tuesday.
