Bulgaria’s Parliament votes Zhelyazkov government into office

Bulgaria’s 51st National Assembly voted into office on January 16 a coalition government headed by Rossen Zhelyazkov of Boiko Borissov’s GERB-UDF.

Of 239 MPs who voted, 125 were in favour, 114 against and there were no abstentions.

At the close of debate lasting about two and a half hours, the votes in favour came from GERB-UDF (68), the Bulgarian Socialist Party – United Left (20), the Ahmed Dogan loyalists of the Democracy, Rights and Freedoms group (19) and populist ITN (18).

Voting against were the reformist We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria coalition (37), Delyan Peevski’s Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning (30), pro-Russian party Vuzrazhdane (35) and populist-nationalist Mech (12).

There are three deputy prime ministers, one each from GERB-UDF, Bulgarian Socialist Party – United Left and ITN, and 19 ministers, from the three coalition government partners. The Dogan loyalists do not have seats at the Cabinet table.

In Bulgaria’s October 2024 early parliamentary elections, GERB-UDF emerged as the largest parliamentary group, thus entitled by the constitution to be the first to receive a mandate.

The election by the National Assembly was held a day after Zhelyazkov accepted from President Roumen Radev a mandate to seek to get a government elected. Zhelyazkov immediately presented a proposed Cabinet, that emerged from weeks of negotiations among GERB-UDF, BSP – United Left and ITN.

This is Bulgaria’s first elected government since the Nikolai Denkov administration left office on April 9 2024, and the first GERB-led government since Borissov left office on May 11 2021. Since 2021, Bulgaria has held seven parliamentary elections, and this is only the third to produce an elected government.

The Zhelyazkov government has only one woman member – GERB-UDF’s Temenuzhka Petkova, who is Finance Minister.

Speaking at the start of the sitting, Zhelyazkov said that Bulgaria needed an elected government in order to implement policies that guarantee the rule of law and social protection.

“Because the country is in a crisis of confidence. Citizens and businesses need support. Because of the complicated environment of wars and crises,” Zhelyazkov said.

“What are the main principles that united us in the coalition? The rule of law, efficiency in public services, strengthening the direct participation of citizens in state power,” he said.

WCC-DB’s Assen Vassilev said: “Mr. Zhelyazkov, we hope to see the governance programme of your Cabinet as soon as possible – what will be the national priorities set in it, in what direction this Cabinet will lead Bulgaria.

“Why do I say this? Because in the coalition that was formed, there are different visions for the development of the country. I have experienced this as a Finance Minister and bringing these visions together is not easy at all, because someone has to give up the visions that they promised their voters,” he said.

Vuzrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said that the BSP – United Left and ITN were betraying their voters by going into coalition with GERB-UDF.

(Photo: parliament.bg)

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