January 25 (SeeNews) - Bulgarian president Rumen Radev decided to call a general election on April 2, he said after three attempts to form government within current parliament failed.
The parliament will be dissolved on February 3, Radev said in a statement on Tuesday, after the Bulgarian Socialist Party returned unfulfilled the third and final exploratory mandate to put together a government.
In his decision, the president said that in scheduling the elections he took into consideration potential technical difficulties that may arise in ensuring the optional ballot by paper or machine, as per recent electoral law changes.
Bulgaria's most recent general election, the fourth in less than two years, was held in October 2022 but failed to provide a clear winner or a viable coalition in parliament able to form government. According to domestic and foreign analysts, the continued political uncertainty in the country is jeopardising the passing of much-needed legislation to facilitate EU funds absorption under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, judicial reform, the passing of the 2023 budget as well as Bulgaria's preparations for eurozone entry on January 1, 2024.
Bulgaria has been governed by a caretaker cabinet appointed by the president in August 2022.