President Mandates GERB-UDF to Form Cabinet, Zhelyazkov Unveils Proposed Lineup

UPDATED President Mandates GERB-UDF to Form Cabinet, Zhelyazkov Unveils Proposed Lineup

The main entrance to the Administration of the President in Sofia (BTA Photo/Minko Chernev)

Sofia,

15.01.2025 12:15 | UPDATED 15.01.2025 13:05

(BTA)

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev Wednesday noon handed a cabinet-forming mandate to GERB-UDF as the largest parliamentary group in the 51st National Assembly. The mandate was received by Prime Minister-designate Rosen Zhelyazkov, who was ready with a proposed cabinet lineup right there, following weeks of negotiations with other parliamentary forces.

Here is the composition of the proposed Zhelyazkov Cabinet that will be laid before the legislature for approval:

Prime Minister: Rosen Zhelyazkov (GERB-UDF)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth: Tomislav Donchev (GERB-UDF)

Deputy Prime Minister: Atanas Zafirov (BSP-United Left)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications: Grozdan Karadzhov (TISP)

Minister of Finance: Temenuzhka Petkova (GERB-UDF)

Minister of Foreign Affairs: Georg Georgiev (GERB-UDF)

Minister of Interior: Daniel Mitov (GERB-UDF)

Minister of Regional Development and Public Works: Ivan Ivanov (BSP-United Left)

Minister of Labour and Social Policy: Borislav Gutsanov (BSP-United Left)

Minister of Justice: Georgi Georgiev (GERB-UDF)

Minister of Defence: Atanas Zapryanov (GERB-UDF)

Minister of Education and Science: Krasimir Valchev (GERB-UDF)

Minister of Health: Silvi Kirilov (TISP)

Minister of Culture: Marian Bachev (TISP)

Minister of Agriculture: Georgi Tahov (GERB)

Minister of Environment and Water: Manol Genov (BSP-United Left)

Minister of Economy and Industry: Petar Dilov (TISP)

Minister of Energy: Zhecho Stankov (GERB-UDF)

Minister of Electronic Governance: Valentin Mundrov (GERB-UDF)

Minister of Tourism: Miroslav Borshosh (GERB-UDF)

Minister of Youth and Sports: Ivan Peshev (BSP-United Left)

Having received the cabinet-forming mandate fulfilled from Rosen Zhelyazkov, President Radev said that even on Wednesday he will issue a decree and will transmit it to the National Assembly, asking the legislature, as required by the Constitution, to take a vote on his nomination for prime minister. The National Assembly is "the venue for a meaningful debate on the structure and name list of the Council of Ministers," the head of State added.

Under the Constitution, the President mandates the largest parliamentary group to form a government. If the group fails to do so, he mandates the second largest one. If it also fails, the third exploratory mandate goes to a parliamentary group chosen by the President. Failure to form a regular government under the third mandate results in snap parliamentary elections.

Since the latest early parliamentary elections on October 27, 2024, the country has been run by a caretaker cabinet headed by Dimitar Glavchev.

GERB-UDF, which garnered most votes in the polls and was allocated the largest number of legislative seats, has been engaged in negotiations with three other parliamentary entities: Democratic Bulgaria (DB), BSP-United Left and There Is Such a People (TISP).

A week ago, the talks with DB were discontinued and went on with the two other parliamentary groups. The three combined, however, do not hold the 121-majority required to vote a cabinet into office. President Radev said then that he would give the parties' negotiators a few more days before handing the first exploratory mandate.

BSP-United Left decided to sign a governance agreement with GERB and TISP. For their part, Democracy, Rights and Freedom - DRF said in a press release that they had met with GERB-UDF, BSP-United Left and TISP to weigh the chances of putting together a parliamentary majority large enough to render up a cabinet.

To be voted through, a proposed cabinet needs a 121-vote majority in the 240-seat legislature. Combined, GERB-UDF, BSP-United Left and TISP have 107 MPs. If backed by DRF's 126 lawmakers, the coalition can count on 126 votes, 5 more than the required minimum.

/LG/