Bulgarian President Radev to Hand First Government Mandate After New Year Amid Political Crisis

President Radev Delays Mandate Amidst Political Turmoil

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev announced on December 19, 2025, that he will hand over the first mandate to form a new government after the upcoming New Year holidays. The decision follows a series of consultations with all parliamentary groups, concluding a period of intense political uncertainty in the country. The New Year's Day public holiday in Bulgaria falls on January 1, indicating the mandate will be issued sometime after this date.

Government Resignation and Persistent Instability

The President's announcement comes on the heels of the resignation of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov's government on December 11, 2025. This resignation, less than a year into its term, was prompted by weeks of widespread public protests concerning economic policies and perceived failures in tackling corruption. Bulgaria has been grappling with a severe political crisis, marked by an unprecedented frequency of parliamentary elections. The country has held seven parliamentary elections in just four years, including polls in April 2021, July 2021, November 2021, October 2022, April 2023, June 2024, and October 2024.

The Mandate Process and Fragmented Parliament

Under the Bulgarian constitution, the President initiates the government formation process by offering the first mandate to the candidate for Prime Minister from the largest parliamentary group. If this attempt fails within seven days, the mandate is then passed to the second-largest group. Should that also prove unsuccessful, the President has the discretion to choose a third party to attempt to form a cabinet. If all three attempts fail, the President is constitutionally obliged to appoint a caretaker government and schedule new parliamentary elections.

The most recent snap parliamentary elections, held on October 27, 2024, saw the center-right GERB-UDF coalition emerge as the largest party, securing approximately 25.5% of the vote and between 66 and 69 seats in the 240-member National Assembly. However, no single party or coalition achieved a clear majority, leading to a highly fragmented political landscape where forming a stable government has proven exceptionally challenging. Eight parties managed to pass the electoral threshold to gain representation.

Anticipation of Early Elections

During his consultations with parliamentary groups, President Radev noted a shared sentiment that 'trust in the 51st National Assembly has been exhausted, the dialogue has been destroyed, and early parliamentary elections are already on the horizon.' This consensus among political factions underscores the high probability of another snap election in the near future. Some participants in the consultations have suggested that a new election could take place as early as late March or early April 2026. The upcoming mandate handover is therefore widely viewed as a procedural step that is unlikely to lead to the formation of a stable, regular government within the current parliamentary composition, further prolonging Bulgaria's political uncertainty.