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Presidential Consultations on Interim Prime Minister Position
The President has stated that Dimitar Glavchev is not the only candidate who has agreed to assume the role of interim Prime Minister. “My options for choosing a Prime Minister are severely limited. I have immediately engaged in discussions with all potential candidates, which are still ongoing. We cannot delay the process any further; clarity is essential for the country’s governance,” declared President Rumen Radev at the start of consultations with parliamentary parties.
He further noted that the pre-election campaign has effectively commenced. Representatives from all parliamentary groups acknowledged that it is within the President’s authority to select the next interim Prime Minister and charge them with forming a government. While the President confirmed that Dimitar Glavchev is one of the candidates willing to take on the role, he refrained from naming others. Radev indicated that he would take into consideration the input received from the political parties.
The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and GERB-SDS have called for early elections to be held on October 20. According to Article 99 of the Constitution, if an agreement on a government is not reached, the President, after consultations with parliamentary groups and upon the proposal of the candidate for interim Prime Minister, appoints an interim government and schedules new elections within a two-month period.
Following constitutional amendments regarding the appointment of an interim Prime Minister, the President can choose from among the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Governor or Deputy Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank, the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson of the Audit Chamber, and the Ombudsman or their deputy. Representatives from all parliamentary groups attended the consultations, which were also joined by Vice President Iliyana Yotova.
“Regardless of the conflicting assessments regarding the constitutional changes… Our firm belief is that the parties should not interfere in the President’s competencies regarding the cabinet’s composition and who should be nominated as Prime Minister and ministers, as this is entirely within your authority and that of the Prime Minister appointed by you,” said Rosen Zhelyazkov, a deputy from GERB-SDS.
Zhelyazkov expressed satisfaction with President Radev’s recent stance, which he believes upholds the spirit of parliamentary democracy and prevents the position of Speaker of the National Assembly from becoming a target for political manipulation. “We will engage in the workings of the executive branch according to our competencies as members of parliament,” he added.
Nikolay Denkov, the leader of the parliamentary group “We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria,” urged President Radev to consider a different leadership team for the Ministry of Interior when discussing the new interim cabinet with the next interim Prime Minister. “This cabinet must ensure fair elections. We do not trust the current Minister of Interior, Kalin Stoyanov. There are indications that justify our concerns. Our appeal is to take this into account and appoint a different minister,” Denkov stated.
Kostadin Kostadinov, the leader of the parliamentary group “Revival,” commented that there is currently no suitable figure for Prime Minister. “This consultation is entirely pointless, aimed at restricting the powers of the presidential institution,” Kostadinov added. “The Bulgarian people do not appreciate the hypocrisy of politicians.” He concluded that a parliament lacking a clear majority responsible for the budget and legislation activities, as well as the executive branch, is not viable.
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Political Landscape and Legislative Concerns in Bulgaria
Yordan Tsonev from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) voiced strong criticism regarding the current legislative situation, describing it as “dangerous, to say the least, because it leads to poor, harmful, and substandard legislation.” He emphasized the ease with which populism thrives in an environment devoid of accountability. “The sooner this parliament concludes its work, the lesser the risks to legislative integrity and financial stability,” Tsonev added.
Constitutional Changes and Their Implications
Borisлав Guțanov, leader of the parliamentary group “BSP for Bulgaria,” pointed out that recent amendments to the Constitution, which his party opposed, have severely limited the options for selecting a caretaker prime minister. According to him, it is essential for the caretaker prime minister to maintain neutrality among all parties to ensure fair and transparent elections. Guțanov also highlighted the unusual frequency of elections, noting that these will be the seventh in three years. He urged that a nominee for the position of European Commissioner be chosen by August 31, advocating for transparency in discussions to ensure a worthy representative for Bulgaria.
Accountability and Political Dynamics
Toshko Yordanov, head of the ITN parliamentary group, stated that the primary reason for the lack of a regular government lies with a specific political party that has dependency issues. He reiterated his opposition to the constitutional amendments, asserting that they would only cause further harm. Yordanov remarked on the “domestic book” established by PP-DB, GERB, and DPS, indicating that President Radev has limited choices for appointing a prime minister. He defended the legality of the procedure for changing the Speaker of the National Assembly and dismissing accusations of political engineering.
Presidential Observations and Future Directions
President Rumen Radev acknowledged his discomfort with the ongoing consultations but insisted on the importance of respecting Article 90 of the Constitution. He addressed Nikolai Denkov regarding the interior minister’s position, stating that discussing this matter is delicate and could imply undue influence. “I select the prime minister, who will then propose names. I will refrain from interference,” Radev clarified. He emphasized the significance of the portfolio that Bulgaria would secure for the European Commissioner, noting that there is still uncertainty regarding potential candidates.
Call for Unity and Responsible Governance
Radev stressed the necessity of forming a unified stance to tackle the issue at hand, suggesting that such collaboration would yield the best outcomes. He also pointed out that the upcoming budget would coincide with the election campaign, warning that while promises are easy to make, they could lead to severe problems such as deficits and inflation if not managed responsibly. “Our ultimate goal should be to ensure the security and peace of Bulgarian citizens and to affirm the existence of a functioning state,” he concluded.
The President indicated that if October 20 is chosen as the election date, the parliament must convene by August 20 for the caretaker government to take an oath, reminding everyone of the responsibilities of the deputies.
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Decision to Continue Working Until August 16
A decision has been made to continue operations until August 16. “Following the elections, the configuration will largely remain the same,” stated Radev, who was met with a counter-question from Kostadin Kostadinov, inquiring about the basis of his certainty regarding the situation’s continuity. Radev expressed that without a shift in approach and ideas, the outcome after the early vote would likely mirror the current state: “We observe that collaboration through coalitions is essential. If we do not establish a degree of tolerance prior to the elections, forming coalitions afterward will be exceedingly challenging,” he emphasized.
