Bulgaria is once again facing new elections after the last of a total of three attempts to form a new government failed on Thursday.
The smallest faction of the There Is Such A People (ITN) party returned the government mandate received from President Rumen Radev, who must now appoint an interim prime minister to prepare for the new election. This would be the sixth parliamentary election in three years.
The government agreed between the two pro-Western political arch-enemies Citizens for European Development-Union of Democratic Forces (GERB-SDS) and We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) in June 2023 was originally scheduled to last 18 months - with a change at the top halfway through.
However, halfway through the term, the political rivals were unable to agree on further reforms and new appointments to continue their coalition.
The liberal-conservative government resigned at the beginning of March.
A possible date for a new election is June 9, the day of the European elections. However, the search for an interim prime minister is proving more difficult due to controversial constitutional amendments - which is why it is also unclear whether a new election can be organized by then.
According to experts, recurring instability could make it more difficult for Bulgaria to introduce the euro on January 1, 2025.
The south-eastern EU country is due to join the visa-free Schengen area on Sunday, but only with freedom of movement for its air and sea borders.
