SOFIA: Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev will convene parliament on May 21, in an attempt to have a government formed quickly and end a political impasse in the European Union's poorest country.
Under Bulgarian law, the president must call the assembly within a month of the May 12 election that created a deeply divided parliament. All parties are refusing to work with the largest group - centre-right GERB.
"The biggest challenge now is to restore the trust of the people, which can only happen through a working a parliament and government," he said on Friday, after talks with leaders of the four parties which will be represented in the assembly.
GERB's government was forced to quit in February after street protests over low living standards, and has been damaged by scandals over wiretapping and illegal ballots.
The party wants the election held again because of what it said was illegal campaigning, although legal experts and analysts said a ruling from the constitutional court could take months and was unlikely to succeed.
Party leader Boiko Borisov said he would try to form a minority government even though the attempt looks doomed to failure. He must do this before any other party is allowed to form a coalition.
The baton would then pass to the Socialists, the second biggest party, which wants to form a government led by former finance minister Plamen Oresharski with support from the ethnic Turkish MRF and backing from nationalist Attack deputies.
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