Bulgaria set for new elections as parties fail to form govt

SOFIA: Bulgaria's president announced Wednesday he would dissolve parliament and call new elections, probably for July, after parties failed to form a government following polls last month.

The April 4 general election produced a fragmented parliament.

The outgoing centre-right GERB party of veteran premier Boyko Borisov came first but had just under 27 percent and failed to find partners to form a government.

Both the anti-establishment party of showman-turned-politician Slavi Trifonov, who came a surprise second, and the Bulgarian Socialist Party, who took third place, were also unable to put together a coalition.

"Next week I will dissolve parliament and appoint a caretaker cabinet," President Rumen Radev said.

"In this situation, new elections are likely to be held on July 11".

He warned that the fresh vote might produce a similarly fragmented legislature and lead to another political deadlock, urging parties to engage in dialogue to avoid prolonged political turmoil.

Anti-corruption protests last summer failed to oust Borisov but seriously undermined the 61-year-old, who has served as premier almost uninterrupted for close to a decade.

Demonstrators accused Borisov of favouritism, dependence on powerful oligarchs and weaponising prosecutors against political opponents.

But without a clear alternative, analysts were unanimous that the poorest EU member state is headed for months of political uncertainty that could hamper the country's pandemic recovery.