site.btaPresident Assigns PM-designate Glavchev to Propose Caretaker Cabinet Lineup

President Rumen Radev Saturday assigned caretaker prime minister-designate Dimitar Glavchev to propose a cabinet lineup. "This mandate must be fulfilled in seven days. I'll be expecting to have your cabinet lineup proposal by next Saturday at the latest. Then, I will invite the parliamentary groups for the mandatory consultations," the head of State said.

Radev argued that he has set a one-week deadline so that it would be possible to hold snap parliamentary elections and European elections simultaneously.

"Neither directly nor indirectly will I participate in the formation of the government. You will be fulfilling this important task on your own. I will expect a cabinet that will be as politically neutral as possible and will work in the best interest of the Bulgarian people and Bulgaria," Radev said. The President stressed that the main task of this cabinet will be to hold elections, "but also to address the problems of the Bulgarian people". 

"I will present a government lineup that will be equally disassociated from all political forces and include experts who are credible, uncorrupt, and have a good standing in society," Glavchev said.

On Friday, after two days of talks with potential candidates, Radev selected Bulgarian National Audit Office (BNAO) President Dimitar Glavchev as caretaker prime minister-designate pursuant to Article 99 (5) of the Constitution. Following the amendments to the basic law, the head of State may choose the caretaker Prime Minister from among the Parliament Chair, the Governor or one of three Deputy Governors of the Bulgarian National Bank, the President or one of two Deputy Presidents of the National Audit Office, and the Ombudsman or his/her deputy.

Under the Constitution, when no agreement on a government has been reached, the head of State, in consultation with the parliamentary groups and on the proposal of the candidate for caretaker Prime Minister, appoints a caretaker government and schedules new elections within two months.