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Bulgaria to Hold Snap Elections After Third Party Rejects Mandate

The decision follows weeks of anti-corruption protests tied to a disputed 2026 budget.

Overview

  • President Rumen Radev said he will appoint a caretaker cabinet and set the date for the vote.
  • The Alliance for Rights and Freedoms returned the final exploratory mandate unfulfilled, following earlier refusals by GERB‑SDS and PP‑DB.
  • Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov resigned last month after demonstrations over alleged endemic corruption and plans to raise some taxes and social contributions.
  • Bulgaria has cycled through repeated elections in recent years, reflecting a fragmented parliament that has struggled to produce durable majorities.
  • The political uncertainty coincides with Bulgaria’s euro adoption on January 1, raising pressure to secure EU funds and attract investment.