Bulgaria's Political Chess: Zhelyazkov Takes the Helm

Rosen Zhelyazkov, the Bulgarian candidate for prime minister, has accepted the president's invitation to form a new government. This development follows a series of difficult coalition talks after the GERB party's win in the October election. Bulgaria seeks political stability to access EU funds and pursue euro adoption.

Bulgaria's political scene underwent a significant shift as Rosen Zhelyazkov accepted the president's invitation to form a government. The move comes after the GERB-SDS group's win in the latest of Bulgaria's snap elections, the seventh in just four years.

Zhelyazkov, backed by a coalition of GERB-SDS, BSP-United Left, and ITN, presented a cabinet to President Rumen Radev and received a mandate to lead. 'Our consultations were aimed at seeking a broader consensus,' Zhelyazkov remarked, following the president's approval.

The stakes are high for Bulgaria, a nation striving for political stability. The country has faced numerous government changes since 2020 amid anti-corruption protests. Stability is needed not just for governance but also to secure EU funds and advance plans to join the eurozone, previously delayed due to unmet inflation targets.

(With inputs from agencies.)