Bulgaria close to electing pro-European government
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Loading... - Laoise Hogan
- 02 Jun 2023
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Bulgaria is on the verge of resolving the prolonged political crisis that has lasted for two and a half years. Negotiations between the GERB party and the coalition known as "We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria" (PP-DB) are underway, and there is a possibility of forming a government that will be subjected to a parliamentary vote next week.
The discussions between GERB and PP-DB have been ongoing throughout the day on Thursday. If successful, this government will make history by implementing a rotational system of prime ministers, a first in Bulgarian politics.
The government's projected duration is 18 months. For the initial nine months, the prime minister will be Professor Nikolay Denkov, representing "We Continue the Change." Denkov brings a wealth of experience, having served as the Minister of Education in four previous governments. Following Denkov, Mariya Gabriel, a representative from GERB and a former EU Commissioner, will assume the role of prime minister.
Denkov expressed optimism after the meeting with GERB, stating, "He should complete the negotiation process soon. We have made significant progress today. Please bear with us a little longer as we continue to make headway."
Unofficial information suggests that Gabriel will initially serve as the deputy prime minister before assuming the role of prime minister. Additionally, she is expected to hold the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs simultaneously.
The co-chairman of "We Continue the Change," Asen Vasilev, will be the highest-ranking party member in the cabinet, serving as the Finance Minister. Todor Tagarev, known for his strong pro-Western stance and his advocacy for providing military assistance to Ukraine, is likely to be appointed as the Defense Minister. Julian Popov, who previously held the position of caretaker Minister of Environment, will also join the government as the Environment Minister.
