New Bulgarian caretaker government sworn in ahead of October election

Six snap elections in a row have failed to yield a stable and effective government, and voters are becoming apathetic in response.

Transcript

00:00A second, caretaker government, led by Prime Minister Dmitar Glavchev, has been sworn in

00:07in Bulgaria as the country prepares for its seventh election in three years.

00:12President Rumen Radev announced the election will take place on the 27th of October, attempting

00:17once more to overcome the political impasse caused by minority governments, failed coalitions

00:22and low voter turnout.

00:24When the voter turnout is as low as it was last time, and there is no guarantee that

00:31it will be the same for the next elections, then the voter turnout becomes very difficult.

00:38That is why I was determined, and I continue to be determined, to ensure that the struggle

00:46with a united and controlled vote is prioritised.

00:51Apart from ensuring fair elections in October, a top priority for the caretaker cabinet is

00:57the appointment of a new Bulgarian European Commissioner before the deadline on Friday.

01:02The GUR party, which finished first in the June elections, but has only 68 legislators

01:08in the 240-seat National Assembly, has put forward former Foreign Minister Ekaterina

01:14Zaharieva.

01:17Other names being considered include the former chairman of the Party of European Socialists,

01:22Sergei Stanishev, and the incumbent, Ileana Ivanova, who is favoured by Ursula von der

01:28Leyen and the EU Commission.