Bulgaria Coalition Holds Narrow Majority Post Recount

In Sofia, Bulgaria, the newly elected legislators took their oaths on Friday following a court-mandated partial recount of the early general election held in October. This judicial decision rearranged the composition of Bulgaria’s parliament.

The Constitutional Court’s verdict has introduced fresh complexities into the nation’s already fragmented political arena. It enabled the nationalist, pro-Russian party Velichie, which translates to “greatness” in Bulgarian, to secure parliamentary representation. Velichie will now occupy 10 parliamentary seats alongside eight other political entities.
Initially, Velichie was just shy of meeting the 4% entry threshold by a minimal vote count. The recount, however, confirmed that it had indeed surpassed this limit, which has caused a realignment in the distribution of seats among other political groups.
Over the past four years, Bulgaria has held seven elections in an attempt to move beyond its ongoing political turmoil. This latest court decision is likely to further weaken the current coalition government, whose majority in the 240-seat assembly has now decreased from 126 to 121 lawmakers.
Political analysts have expressed concern that the potential for yet another early election could endanger Bulgaria’s planned adoption of the euro at the start of next year.
Boyko Borissov, the ex-prime minister and current leader of the center-right GERB party at the helm of the coalition government, has accused his political rivals of fostering disorder by disputing the election outcomes.
He leveled criticism at President Rumen Radev, who has had disagreements with the government on foreign policy matters, alleging that the President is attempting to topple the administration. “The plot has prevailed, leading to our disenfranchisement. President Radev cannot maintain his façade of neutrality, as it was his appointed judges who orchestrated this,” Borissov communicated to journalists.