Bulgarian Socialist Party to refuse to form government

Bulgaria’s socialist political alliance—BSP for Bulgaria—will officially refuse the mandate to form a government today.

BSP Leader Kornelia Ninova followed the footsteps of both incumbent Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and populist newcomer Slavi Trifonov in denying the option to form a cabinet. After the April 4 elections, neither Borissov’s conservative GERB party, Trifonov’s ITN party or BSP for Bulgaria won enough seats to form a majority. All three factions are currently unwilling to compromise political priorities to form a stable coalition.

As a result, President Rumen Radev will be forced to replace parliament with an interim administration and set a date for snap elections, likely in early July. The growing political instability in Bulgaria follows protests over corruption by the Borrisov government and adds to the discontent of increasingly illiberal governments across Eastern Europe, namely in Poland and Hungary—events that are likely to continue given Bulgaria’s mounting anti-establishment agenda. Expect further protesting from voters united against the GERB, particularly as a continued power-struggle will only exacerbate domestic economic issues. A coalition of some kind will be required to form a 121-seat majority, but given competing parties’ reluctance, it is uncertain who will come to the table first.