Bulgaria’s Prime Minister-Designate Withdraws Nomination, Sending Country into Crisis
Bulgaria’s prime minister-designate, Maria Gabriel, made a shocking announcement on Monday as she withdrew her nomination due to failed negotiations between political coalitions. This move could potentially send the European Union’s poorest member country into a new crisis.
Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov had stepped down on March 6, expecting Gabriel to replace him in a smooth transition of power. However, after two weeks of negotiations between the center-right GERB-UDF coalition and the reformist coalition led by We Continue the Change, the talks fell apart.
Gabriel, a former EU commissioner, had been proposed by the largest group in parliament to form a new government. Hours before her withdrawal, she and her negotiating team expressed their disappointment, stating that it was “all over” and that Bulgaria was likely heading towards early elections.
The failed negotiations came after a deal was struck following April’s election, where it was agreed that each coalition would hold the top job of prime minister for nine months at a time. However, issues surrounding judicial reform, leadership of the security services, and the lineup of Gabriel’s Cabinet led to the breakdown in talks.
In a televised address, Denkov urged GERB-UDF to honor their agreement and avoid throwing the country into chaos. The two coalitions have now accused each other of sabotaging the negotiations, leaving Bulgaria in a state of uncertainty.
As the country faces the prospect of early elections and continued political instability, the future of Bulgaria’s leadership remains uncertain.
