By Ahmet Gencturk
ATHENS (AA) - Bulgarian President Rumen Radev gave the mandate to form a government to the central-right GERB-UDF bloc, local media reported on Wednesday.
The mandate was received by Prime Minister-designate Rosen Zhelyazkov, who was ready with a proposed Cabinet lineup in the presidential palace in the capital city of Sofia, following weeks of negotiations with other parliamentary forces, state-run BTA news agency reported.
The Cabinet, if approved by the parliament, would include ministers, including deputy prime ministers, from the leftist bloc of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP)-United Left Party and populist There is Such a People party, according to the agency.
Speaking to the press following the mandate handing ceremony, Zhelyazkov said the procedure for eurozone accession, the 2025 budget, stabilizing the institutions, and restoring inter-institutional dialogue will be among the government’s priorities.
Radev, for his part, said: “Bulgarians waited too long for an end to the political crisis and a regular government. That is why I gave your party and your potential partners enough time to consider the possible options and find a working formula.”
To be approved in the parliament, a proposed Cabinet needs a 121-vote majority in the 240-seat legislature.
Combined, GERB-UDF, BSP-United Left and TISP have 107 MPs. If backed by the Movement of Rights and Freedom, as expected, the coalition can count on 126 votes, 5 more than the required minimum.
Since the latest early parliamentary elections on Oct. 27, 2024, the country has been run by a caretaker Cabinet headed by Dimitar Glavchev.