Bulgaria has successfully avoided holding its eighth parliamentary election in four years.

The new cabinet, formed after the failed negotiations for a broad coalition, is made up of parties that do not hold a majority in parliament - namely GERB, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, and the populist party "There Is Such a People." However, it also relies on the support of a faction from the DPS party, which represents the interests of the Turkish minority. As a result, the government secured 125 votes in a parliament of 240.

As reported by the Bulgarian service of Radio Free Europe, among the priorities of his government, Zhelyazkov mentioned strengthening the welfare state, protecting freedom and pluralism in the media and civil society, as well as joining the Eurozone.

The opposition consists of nationalist and pro-Russian forces, along with the pro-European party "Democratic Bulgaria – We Continue the Change," which actively supports Ukraine. This party had been in negotiations to join the government but ultimately was not included in the coalition.

The new cabinet promised not to appoint Boguslav Sarafov as the Attorney General, whose subordinates were accused of pro-Russian sympathies. At the same time, the new government’s program pays significantly less attention to supporting Ukraine than before. Previously, commentators expressed concerns about a potential rapprochement between the new Bulgarian leadership and Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose stance on the war in Ukraine contradicts the policies of most EU countries.

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