Bulgaria: formation of new government stalled
Bulgaria elected a new parliament on 2 October in the country's fourth general election in two years. None of the parties secured a majority and the formation of unusual coalitions is faltering. If it fails, the president will dissolve parliament again and appoint an interim government which would then lead the country without a parliament until the next elections. Commentators voice consternation.
Follow Italy's example
If no government is formed the parliament will be dissolved, and that will have dramatic consequences for the country, Trud points out:
“In economically strong Italy, where government crises are the order of the day, parliament continues to function unperturbed. ... That's why Italy has received its second tranche of billions in aid under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, whereas Bulgaria has no chance of receiving any money until the end of the year. The same goes for the EU loans at a symbolic interest rate which we are entitled to until 2029, as well as further EU subsidies amounting to almost 30 billion euros.”
Always the same politicians blocking progress
Only a grand coalition could provide a stable government, but apparently no one wants this, Sega comments:
“Just a few days after the elections there are indications that the politicians will once again lead the country into a dead end. After the vote the political stage is still occupied by the same players as in the previous parliament, and once again a broad coalition is the only chance for forming a government. The politicians realise this and swear that we need a regular cabinet and parliament for the state to function normally. At the same time, however, they act as if they couldn't care less whether they find a way out of the stalemate.”
At the mercy of external constraints
Hvg sees no way out in the short term:
“There is little hope of breaking the deadlock. According to analysts in Sofia, a growing number of Bulgarians believe that the country's medium-term fate depends on external factors - the outcome of the war in Ukraine, the resolution of the energy crisis and the easing of inflationary pressures - and that until then it will largely not matter who forms a government. Successive governments are on a forced orbit.”