Bulgaria to hold fresh elections in July

Bulgarians will have to return to the polls to elect a new parliament after three failed attempts to form a government.

Following the election on April 4, the country is heading for a new parliamentary election, probably on July 11, President Rumen Radev said on Wednesday.

The third strongest party, the hitherto opposition Socialists (BSP), had earlier immediately returned the mandate to form a government to Radev due to lack of support.

“There is no objective possibility that we will form a government,’’ said Socialist leader Kornelia Ninova.

Radev announced he would dissolve the parliament next week and appoint an interim government.

He said he would also invite “respected experts from the left’’ to join the temporary administration.

Radev was elected head of state of the EU country in 2016 as the candidate of the Socialists, who emerged from the former communist party, he is considered pro-Russia.

Incumbent Prime Minister Boyko Borisov’s conservative populist GERB party, which emerged as the strongest party from the April 4, election with 26 per cent of the vote, had tried to set up a pro-European government.

But the parties of the anti-Borisov camp rejected any talks on supporting a new government with him at the helm, accusing him of corrupt office.

Borisov has governed in Sofia with a brief interruption since 2009.

The populist “There is Such a People’’ party of entertainer Slavi Trifonov, as the second strongest party with 17.6 per cent of the vote, had already rejected the idea of forming a government.

A total of six political forces entered the 240-member parliament. No party has a majority capable of governing on its own.