SOFIA, Bulgaria — On Thursday, Bulgaria’s parliament officially sanctioned a coalition government led by the center-right GERB party, which has committed to reinstating financial stability and upholding its pro-European Union and pro-NATO stance.

Legislators cast their votes resulting in 125 in favor and 114 against the appointment of Rosen Zhelyazkov as prime minister. Zhelyazkov, aged 56, is a lawyer with a background as a former speaker of parliament and has held ministerial positions in various administrations under the GERB party.

The decision to appoint Zhelyazkov as head of the new government came despite the party leader, Boyko Borissov, having previously led three governments from 2009 to 2021. Borissov’s last cabinet stepped down amid significant anti-corruption demonstrations.

In the most recent elections held last October — the seventh such elections in three years — the GERB party emerged in first place, securing 69 seats in the 240-member National Assembly. However, this number does not suffice for an absolute majority, compelling the party to rely on a coalition.

Zhelyazkov acknowledged the necessity of “the necessary compromises” to bridge the ideological gaps with their coalition partners — the pro-Russian Socialist Party (BSP) and the populist faction known as There Is Such a People (ITN).

Despite lacking a straightforward majority, the coalition gained approval in a separate vote largely due to the support from a small ethnic Turkish party that lent its backing without joining the coalition itself.

The newly formed government is largely comprised of former ministers and party officials affiliated with GERB, who claimed 11 ministerial positions, while both BSP and ITN secured four ministerial roles each.